United's Ryan Giggs puts yoga ahead of parties

Giggs has not ruled out returning for Wales in an emergency

Ryan Giggs says he enjoys a "more boring life" these days involving yoga rather than boozy nights out with mates.

The Manchester United and former Wales star, who is 36, is careful to look after himself so he can continue his remarkable career for as long as possible.

Giggs, who hopes to help United to victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, said he hardly drank alcohol nowadays and did not go out as much as his younger team-mates.

"I have enjoyed my football more in the last three or four years than ever before because I don't take any of it for granted," he told Zoo Magazine.

"But at the same time, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices.

"I can't get away with the things I did in my early 20s, like going out drinking and eating fast food.

We are all footballers and we share a lot of the same interests, so it's no problem Ryan Giggs

"I hardly drink any alcohol these days. I have taken up yoga, which is great. I just lead a more boring life."

Cardiff-born Giggs has won 11 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and four League Cups in a distinguished career.

Although he has retired from international football, he has said he would not rule out returning for Wales in an emergency.

He retired to extend his club career and is now United's all-time appearance record holder.

Clean-living Giggs has rarely made tabloid headlines although he did once have a celebrity girlfriend - TV presenter Dani Behr.

David Beckham's emergence in the same United team meant journalists searching for gossip tended to overlook the unassuming Welshman.

Giggs even had to put the brakes on his love of fast cars because he was told by a specialist the different clutch pedals might be aggravating his hamstring.

Nowadays, Giggs is happy to let his team-mates get excited about their new cars while he goes home to look after his children.

He said he was aware the younger players looked up to him, and he made an effort to look after them.

"I can relate to them a bit. We like the same music - well, most of the time - and I get on with them," he said.

"We are all footballers and we share a lot of the same interests, so it's no problem.

"But our lives are very different away from the training ground.

"I will just go home and play with the children, but they go out more and come into training each day in mad clothes and talk about their cars all the time - the same things I did at their age."