Manchester United hero Ryan Giggs has revealed how close he came to copping the infamous flying boot which struck David Beckham five years ago.

Giggs was sitting alongside Beckham after the February 2003 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal when manager Sir Alex Ferguson memorably sent a boot spinning across the dressing room and left Goldenballs with a cut eye.

He revealed to GQ: "It missed me by inches on the way through. It was unbelievable. But the manager knows how to get the best out of everyone, whether it's putting his arm around them or the hairdryer."