Zachary Joseph Giggs is a Welsh footballer who plays for Sheffield United U21. Born on 1 October 2006 in Manchester, England, he is the son of former Manchester United and Wales footballer Ryan Giggs and Stacey Cooke. He is mainly a right-back, although he can also play at left-back, centre-back and in deeper midfield positions. His ability to cover different areas of the pitch has become an important part of his development.
Growing up with the Giggs surname brought natural attention because of his father’s achievements at Manchester United. However, Zach has followed a different playing path. Ryan became famous as an attacking winger, while his son has developed mainly as a defender. After spending his early football years with Manchester United, Zach moved to Sheffield United in 2023 and later progressed into the club’s Under-21 side.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Age and Early Life
Zachary Joseph Giggs was born on 1 October 2006 in Manchester. He is 19 years old in 2026 and will turn 20 on 1 October 2026. Football was a major part of his childhood because his father spent his entire senior club career at Manchester United and became one of the most successful players in English football.
Zach started playing football from a young age and eventually entered Manchester United’s academy. Training inside the same club where his father had achieved so much gave him access to a high-level football environment. Rather than playing exactly like Ryan, Zach gradually developed his own strengths in defending, positioning and supporting attacks from deeper areas.
Birthplace and Citizenship
Zach was born in Manchester, England, and holds both Welsh and English citizenship. Although England is his country of birth, he has represented Wales throughout his youth international career. His Welsh connection comes through his father’s family, and he followed the same international route as Ryan Giggs.
His international development has included Wales U15, U16, U17 and U19 football. These appearances have allowed him to compete against talented young players from different European countries while gaining experience outside domestic academy football.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Parents
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs is Zach’s father and one of Manchester United’s most decorated former players. He spent his entire senior club career at Old Trafford, winning Premier League titles, FA Cups and European trophies. Ryan was best known for his pace, dribbling, crossing and ability to attack from the left side of midfield. He later moved into coaching and management after ending his playing career.
Comparisons between father and son are natural, but their football roles are quite different. Ryan spent much of his career creating and scoring goals from attacking positions, while Zach has developed as a right-back and versatile defender. Zach’s career therefore has its own identity despite the strong Manchester United connection within his family.
Stacey Cooke
Zachary Joseph Giggs’s mother is Stacey Cooke. She was Ryan Giggs’s long-term partner before the couple married in September 2007. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2017. Stacey has maintained a much quieter public life than Ryan and has generally stayed outside football media coverage.
She has still been present during important stages of Zach’s development. His family supported him when he left Manchester United and continued his football journey with Sheffield United, an important move at a young age.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Siblings and Family
Zachary Joseph Giggs has an elder sister named Liberty Beau Giggs, often known as Libby Giggs. She was born in April 2003 and chose a career outside professional sport. Liberty attended Nottingham Trent University and later entered the interior design industry, where she works as a junior interior designer.
He also has a younger paternal half-sister named Cora Giggs. Cora was born on 1 November 2024 to Ryan Giggs and Zara Charles. Zach therefore has one older sister and one much younger half-sister.
Sport also runs through other parts of the family. His paternal grandfather, Danny Wilson, played rugby union and represented Wales in rugby league, while his uncle Rhodri Giggs was involved in football. This gave Zach a family background with experience in competitive sport across different generations.
Manchester United Academy Career
Zachary Joseph Giggs developed at Manchester United before moving to Sheffield United. Ryan Giggs confirmed during Zach’s younger years that his son trained within United’s academy, placing him inside one of England’s most respected youth systems.
During his time there, Zach gained experience in several defensive roles. He played at full-back and centre-back while learning the tactical demands of academy football. He did not make a senior competitive appearance for Manchester United, and his time with the club came to an end in 2023.
Leaving Manchester United
Zachary Joseph Giggs left Manchester United Youth and joined Sheffield United U18 on 1 July 2023. The move was completed as a free transfer. He was 16 at the time and entered a new academy environment where he could continue developing without the constant pressure of remaining at the club most closely associated with his father.
The change proved important for his progress. Sheffield United initially introduced him as a right wing-back, although his later development showed that he could perform in several defensive and midfield positions.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Sheffield United Career
Zachary Joseph Giggs joined Sheffield United U18 in July 2023 and continued his development within the club’s academy. His performances earned wider attention during his first year, and he was recognised among promising young footballers from Premier League academy systems in October 2023.
He continued playing youth football with Sheffield United before moving into the next stage of his career. On 1 July 2025, he progressed from Sheffield United U18 to Sheffield United U21. The move placed him closer to senior football and gave him opportunities against older and more physically developed opponents.
Sheffield United U21 and Professional Terms
During the summer of 2025, Sheffield United confirmed professional agreements for several academy players, including Zach. Signing professional terms marked an important step because he had moved beyond scholarship football and into the professional development structure.
The exact length and financial value of his contract have not been disclosed. His contract expiry date is also not publicly available. What is clear is that Sheffield United continued to invest in his development after his progression from the Under-18 side.
Retained by Sheffield United in 2026
Sheffield United retained Zach following the 2025–26 season, allowing him to continue with the club. This means he remained part of Sheffield United’s development structure rather than becoming a free agent during the summer of 2026.
As of 2026, he continues to play with Sheffield United U21. His current challenge is to build consistency at Under-21 level and move closer to opportunities in senior football. Regular development matches give him the chance to improve his strength, decision-making and tactical awareness.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Position and Playing Style
Zachary Joseph Giggs’s main position is right-back, while left-back and centre-back are also recognised as secondary roles. His ability to play on either side of defence gives coaches more tactical options and helps him adapt to different formations.
His development has not been limited to defence. Recorded positional data also shows five appearances in defensive midfield, one in central midfield and one at right midfield. He scored during his central midfield appearance, showing that he can contribute when moved further forward.
Unlike his father, Zach’s game is based more on defensive awareness, positioning, passing and supporting attacks from deeper areas. He is comfortable moving forward and has shown a willingness to cross, shoot and join attacking situations when space becomes available.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Career Statistics
Recorded competition data gives Zach 10 appearances across the Premier League Cup and FA Youth Cup. He has seven Premier League Cup appearances with one goal and three FA Youth Cup appearances without scoring. These matches account for 884 minutes of recorded playing time.
His recorded Sheffield United U21 total within these competitions stands at seven appearances and one goal, while three appearances came for Sheffield United U18. He also received four yellow cards across the recorded matches. These figures cover specific competitions and should not be treated as every youth or development match he has played.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Wales Career
Zach has represented Wales through several youth age groups. He made his Wales U15 debut on 30 May 2021 and earned one appearance before progressing to Wales U16, where he made his debut on 21 September 2021.
He later moved into the Wales U17 team, making his debut on 28 September 2022 and earning two caps. His progress continued when he joined the Wales U19 setup in 2024.
Wales U19 Experience
Zach made his Wales U19 debut on 9 September 2024. He earned six caps at that level without scoring and took part in European Championship qualification. His experience included matches against strong European opposition during the Elite Round.
Wales faced England, Portugal and Türkiye during that stage, with Zach starting against Türkiye in a 3–1 victory. Across his U15, U16, U17 and U19 career, he has 10 recorded Wales youth appearances and no goals.
Social Media and Personal Life
Zach uses the Instagram account @zachgiggs, where he has more than 2,600 followers. His account identifies his connection with Sheffield United and remains focused mainly on football rather than celebrity entertainment.
He keeps his private life away from major attention. No marriage, engagement or confirmed romantic relationship has been made public, and there is no confirmed evidence that he has children. His current public identity remains centred on his football development.
Zachary Joseph Giggs Net Worth and Salary
Zach’s personal net worth has not been disclosed. He signed professional terms with Sheffield United in 2025, but his salary, bonuses and contract value remain private. His father earned considerable wealth during his football career, but Ryan Giggs’s finances should not be treated as Zach’s personal wealth.
At this early stage of his career, Zach’s main focus is establishing himself in professional football. His future earnings will depend heavily on whether he progresses from development football into regular senior competition.
What Is Zachary Joseph Giggs Doing Now?
As of 2026, Zach remains with Sheffield United U21. He has progressed from Manchester United’s academy to Sheffield United U18 and then into the club’s Under-21 setup, while also gaining experience across four Wales youth age groups.
His versatility gives him several possible routes towards senior football. At 19, he still has plenty of development time, and regular matches will be important as he works towards establishing himself at professional first-team level.
Final Thoughts on Zachary Joseph Giggs
Zachary Joseph Giggs has grown up with a famous football name, but his career is taking its own direction. He developed at Manchester United, moved to Sheffield United in 2023 and progressed into the Under-21 team in 2025. Sheffield United retained him in 2026, giving him further time to develop within the club.
Primarily a right-back, Zach can also play at left-back, centre-back and in midfield. His experience with Wales U15, U16, U17 and U19 has added an international dimension to his development. He is still at the beginning of his professional journey, but his versatility, academy education and growing experience provide a solid base for the next stage of his football career.
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