What Happened to Ryan Joseph Giggs?
Ryan Giggs, a legendary former Manchester United footballer and ex-Wales national team manager, faced a high-profile domestic abuse scandal involving allegations of controlling and coercive behavior and assault against his former partner, Kate Greville, and her sister. After a hung jury in his first trial in 2022, all charges were formally dropped in July 2023 when Greville declined to give evidence in a retrial. Since then, Giggs has sought to rebuild his career, briefly taking a role at Salford City and expressing a strong desire to return to football management, while also facing continued public scrutiny and being overlooked for the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Quick Answer
Ryan Giggs was cleared of all domestic abuse charges in July 2023 after his former partner, Kate Greville, decided not to give evidence in a retrial, leading prosecutors to drop the case. Following the legal proceedings, Giggs briefly served as Director of Football at Salford City in 2024-2025 and has publicly expressed his ambition to return to full-time football management, potentially abroad. His reputation remains impacted, as evidenced by his exclusion from the Premier League Hall of Fame as of early 2026. He is scheduled to host a live 'Evening with' event in Blackpool in March 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Affair with Sister-in-Law Revealed
Reports emerge of Ryan Giggs having an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri's wife, Natasha, following earlier controversy over a super-injunction.
Arrested on Suspicion of Assault
Ryan Giggs is arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault against his then-girlfriend Kate Greville and her younger sister Emma. He temporarily steps down as Wales manager.
Officially Charged
Giggs is officially charged with controlling or coercive behavior against Kate Greville, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against her, and common assault against Emma Greville.
Resigns as Wales Manager
Giggs formally resigns from his position as manager of the Wales national team, stating he does not want to 'destabilise or jeopardise' their World Cup campaign ahead of his trial.
First Trial Begins
Giggs' first trial commences at Manchester Crown Court, where he denies all charges. The trial lasts for a month and includes revelations about his private life.
Jury Discharged, Hung Jury Declared
The jury in Giggs' first trial is discharged after failing to reach a verdict on any of the charges, leading to a hung jury. A retrial is scheduled.
Charges Dropped, Found Not Guilty
All domestic abuse charges against Ryan Giggs are formally dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after Kate Greville declines to give evidence in a retrial, and he is formally found not guilty.
Reported as Director of Football at Salford City
Reports indicate that Ryan Giggs takes on a role as Director of Football at League Two club Salford City, a club he co-owns, marking his first official return to football since being cleared.
Ryan Giggs Ltd Placed into Liquidation & Leaves Salford City
Ryan Giggs' business, Ryan Giggs Ltd, is placed into voluntary liquidation. Concurrently, he reportedly leaves his coaching role at Salford City to pursue a return to full-time management.
Brother Rhodri Announces Re-engagement
Rhodri Giggs announces his re-engagement, 14 years after the affair between his ex-wife and Ryan Giggs was revealed, noting he 'made s*** load of money from it'.
Expresses Desire for Managerial Return
Giggs states in an interview that he is ready to return to football management, open to both club and international roles, potentially abroad.
Overlooked for Premier League Hall of Fame
Despite his illustrious playing career, Ryan Giggs is once again overlooked for induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame, with off-field controversy cited as a contributing factor.
'Evening with' Event Scheduled
Ryan Giggs is scheduled to host a live 'Evening with' event at Viva in Blackpool, featuring a two-part interview about his career and a Q&A session.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The 'Ryan Giggs scandal' refers primarily to the domestic abuse allegations brought against the former Manchester United and Wales national team footballer. The controversy began in November 2020 when Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Kate Greville, and her sister, Emma Greville. He was subsequently charged with controlling or coercive behavior against Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Kate Greville, and common assault against Emma Greville.
The allegations led to Giggs stepping down temporarily from his role as Wales manager in November 2020, a position he had held since January 2018. As the legal process unfolded, Giggs officially resigned as Wales manager in June 2022, stating he did not want to 'destabilise or jeopardise' the team's World Cup preparations. His first trial commenced in August 2022 at Manchester Crown Court, where he denied all charges. The trial, which lasted for a month, saw details of his private life, including admissions of infidelity, laid bare. However, the jury was discharged in August 2022 after failing to reach a verdict on any of the charges, resulting in a hung jury.
A retrial was scheduled for July 2023. However, just two weeks before it was due to begin, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it would not be proceeding with the case. This decision was made because Kate Greville had indicated an 'unwillingness' to give evidence again, citing the toll the first trial had taken on her and her sister. Consequently, Giggs was formally found not guilty of all charges.
In the aftermath of the charges being dropped, Giggs expressed relief and a desire to rebuild his life and career as an 'innocent man'. He briefly returned to football in a coaching capacity, reportedly as Director of Football at Salford City, a club he co-owns, starting around October 2023. However, by September 2025, he had reportedly left this role, indicating a desire to pursue a return to full-time management elsewhere, potentially abroad. His business, Ryan Giggs Ltd, was also placed into voluntary liquidation in September 2025.
As of March 2026, Giggs' public profile remains complex. While cleared legally, his reputation has been 'tarnished' by the revelations during the trial, including his admissions of infidelity. This has notably impacted his legacy, as he has been consistently overlooked for induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame, despite his unparalleled playing record. Giggs is scheduled to appear at a live 'Evening with' event in Blackpool in March 2026, marking another step back into the public arena.