KUALA LUMPUR – Football leagues across Asia — including the M-League — need more quality teams to foster a competitive environment, says Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.
The 52-year-old, who made 672 appearances for the Red Devils and collected 35 trophies during his 24-year career with the club, stressed the importance of balance in domestic leagues, where no single team should dominate for too long.
“You can see now how high the quality is in the English Premier League (EPL) – there are many teams capable of putting up a fight, and even lower-ranked sides can beat anyone. So, what you need in a domestic league is competitiveness.
“I’ve been watching Asian football leagues occasionally, and this is something that has been lacking based on my observations over the years. I have also watched the M-League, and the script is the same as well.
“Asian clubs should plan their budgets well and not be afraid to experiment with the players they have. The mix of foreign and local players really helps.
“Players can learn from foreign players, and vice versa. If all Asian clubs can do this, we will be able to see more competitiveness in Asian leagues,” he said during the Manchester United vs Asean All-Stars press conference held in the city earlier today.
The match is scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on May 28, with Giggs calling it an exciting prospect — especially for Red Devils supporters in the region.
Giggs also praised the progress of Asian players over the past decade, saying they now have a stronger chance of breaking into the Premier League more regularly in the near future.
Since the EPL’s inception in 1992, more than 60 players from Asian countries have featured in the league — among them Son Heung-min, Park Ji-sung, Shinji Kagawa, and Sun Jihai.
Others include British-born players of Asian descent, such as Hamza Choudhury and Zesh Rehman, who have also made EPL appearances.
“There is a lot of quality among Asian players, and they always stand out compared to us Europeans, especially in terms of stamina and tactical understanding of the game.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Asian players representing EPL clubs in the near future, including those from the Southeast Asian region,” Giggs added.
Meanwhile, ProEvents CEO Julian Kam said Giggs’ appearance has given a major boost to the regional football scene.
“His presence not only stirs excitement among the fans, but also heightens the buzz surrounding Manchester United’s return to Malaysian soil after 16 years,” he said.
The 13-time EPL champions last visited Malaysia during their 2009 pre-season tour, recording back-to-back wins over a Malaysia XI with scorelines of 3-2 and 2-0 — both at Bukit Jalil. — May 17, 2025