Ryan Giggs hopeful former Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will make recovery

Ryan Giggs is one of the latest to pay tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The legendary Manchester United manager underwent emergency surgery on Saturday following a brain haemorrhage. He remains in intensive care. Giggs was handed a debut by Ferguson when aged just 17. He went on to become United's most decorated player, also breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record before retiring from playing in 2014. "Now is the time to pray and hope he can make a full recovery," Giggs, now the Welsh national team manager, told BBC Wales. "He has been the biggest influence in my career, both on and off the pitch. "I know the operation has been a success - but he is a fighter and that is what makes me think that he will be able to make a recovery." Giggs is one of a number of Ferguson's former players to have paid tribute to the Scot in recent days. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has regularly spoken of his gratitude to the 76-year-old, posted a message to his social media channels on Sunday. Edwin van der Sar, United's first choice goalkeeper between 2005 and 2011, also paid a particularly poignant tribute to his former manager. Van der Sar's wife Annemarie suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2009. She went on to make a full recovery.