Manchester United manager David Moyes and a number of English Premier League managers paid tribute to Red Devils veteran Ryan Giggs, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday.

Moyes, who is in his first year of tenure at Old Stafford, led the initiative to pay homage to the man who faced and overcame all sorts of challenges throughout his 23-year football career.

"[He is] undoubtedly at the top because of his longevity, the time he's played for one club, the amount of games he's played, what he's done in the Premier League and Europe," Moyes said in an interview with ESPN FC.

"Every season you can look through and see Ryan Giggs moments. I just think to be playing so well at his age is terrific.

"He's a great example to young players of how you should dedicate yourself to your career, and also to players in their early-to-mid-30s, who think maybe they're coming to the end.

"But if you really look after yourself and train well, it can maybe go on a lot longer for you."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has been one of Manchester United's stiffest rival coach, also had words of appreciation for the ever durable Giggs.

"He reminds me a bit of Dennis Bergkamp, he as well played until he was 37, 38. What you respect as a manager is not only the talent of the players, but their love and the passion for the game. To be still in there shows an exceptional passion and you respect that a lot.

"Congratulations to him. I saw his game on Wednesday night [the 5-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen]. To deliver that at 40, is something very special.

"Amazingly, when he was a young player, he was injured a lot and now as he has got older he is not injured any more. Maybe he is like a good Bordeaux, he gets better as he gets older."

Giggs received kind words from Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho and Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers.

"For me, he's a historical player. I think the first time I came to play in England was Manchester United against Barcelona in, I would say, 1997 or 1998, something like that, and he was a top player for Manchester United. And that was back then. Now you are in 2013-14 and the man is a top player for them still," Mourinho told ESPN FC News.

"I've always looked at Ryan because he's the same age as me. He's 40 and he's playing, and I'm 40 and sitting here. He's been blessed genetically with a body that has allowed him to stay fit to play games. I think everyone in football has an incredible admiration for him," Rogers said.