Ryan Giggs has defied the passage of time to keep producing top-quality displays for Manchester United © Getty Images Enlarge

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs will skipper Stuart Pearce's Team GB side at London 2012.

Giggs, 38, was named as one of three over-age players in Pearce's 18-man party, alongside Liverpool's Craig Bellamy and Manchester City's Micah Richards.

The Welshman, who retired from international duty in 2007 after winning 64 caps, has never appeared at a World Cup or European Championship.

Team GB boss Pearce said: "Ryan Giggs has been a fantastic professional over the years, someone I've been looking forward to working alongside.

"He was the standout captain in a group that's got the Welsh captain Aaron Ramsey here, Micah Richards who's captained Manchester City and Craig Bellamy who's been around the game a long time. There were one or two other candidates as well.

"But I think Ryan has gained the respect of the group - and he's got the respect of the management as well."

Giggs made 25 league starts for Sir Alex Ferguson's side last season, hitting the back of the net on two occasions, as he once again defied the passage of time to make a difference at the highest level.

"It is a tremendous honour to be part of the Olympics," Giggs told the Sun. "Stuart has given me the captaincy, which is even better. I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's a unique experience and one from the start that I wanted to be part of when I got the opportunity."

Team GB will play a friendly against Brazil on July 20, before beginning their Olympic campaign against Senegal on July 26.

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