As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Man Utd winger James: Giggs, Henry & Hazard were my idols

Manchester United winger Daniel James has revealed his footballing idols are Arsenal and Chelsea legends.

The Wales international says he spent his youth admiring the play of Thierry Henry and Eden Hazard, while also looking up to United legend Ryan Giggs.

He told MUTV when asked about his childhood heroes: "There are a few players that obviously come to mind.

"I think, growing up, I always liked Juan [Mata]. It's a weird one because, when I first signed for United, meeting him, he's such a great guy and it was surreal for me to meet him.

"He was playing for Chelsea in those days when I was watching. Him and [Eden] Hazard together, I always looked up to them two.

"Ryan Giggs, who is obviously my manager for Wales, is always someone I look up to. Not just from the career that he had, but the way he went about it.

"He played for Manchester United for over 20 years. To play at the top level for that long, to play until you're 39 or 40, still in the Premier League at the top level, you rarely see that in the game and there's not many players who are going to do that ever again. To do that, he's someone to look up to.

"I'll say Thierry Henry too, for the things that he did. But probably Ryan Giggs most out of them all."

Video of the day:

About the author

Freddie Taylor

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free