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Ryan Giggs lifts lid on his Old Trafford exit
Ryan Giggs has insisted there was never any offer on the table for him to stay at Manchester United when Jose Mourinho took over as manager last summer.
It will be 12 months this Sunday that Giggs' 29-year association with the Reds as player, interim boss and assistant manager officially came to an end and his exit was announced.
In the wake of Louis van Gaal's sacking in May 2016 following United's FA Cup triumph, the Dutchman's number two quit.
It was suggested that Mourinho wanted him to stay on but the role as his right hand man wasn't vacant.
“There was no offer from Jose Mourinho. No offer. It was my choice to go,” Giggs told MEN Sport exclusively.
“As soon as Louis was going I had made my decision to go.
“I had done two years and I wanted to do three years under Louis. It didn't happen. That was my plan to do my three years and see what happened after that.
“Unfortunately, that was cut short. It happens. That's football. But I didn't really feel I could go on at the club in any other capacity apart from manager.”
With Mourinho United's choice to take them forward Giggs was open to offers in coaching and management.
The 43-year-old multi-medal winner at Old Trafford spoke to Swansea City last season and has been linked this summer with vacancies at Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
But, despite business interests and his work with Salford City he hasn't yet gone back into football on the management side.
“I'm quite happy with life at the moment. I have always said I would like to go into coaching but I am not in any rush. I am not desperate,” Giggs added.
“If the right job comes along I will look at it. But I have other things. I do technical observer work for UEFA, I do TV. I am still watching a lot of football and am involved in football but I also have a lot of other stuff. I am able to watch my son play football which I have never been able to do. It is a nice balance at the moment.
“I feel I have all the attributes to be a good coach, a good manager for sure.
“I spoke to Swansea. It didn't work out. Because I have said I want to go into coaching and management every job that comes up I am linked with..and then I miss out on the job without having spoken to anyone! That's frustrating, but that's football.
“I don't expect to walk into a job and I have never expected that. Maybe owners and football clubs just look at the football player rather than the work I have done to be a coach.
“I got my A licence while I was playing, I was the only person to do my pro licence while I was playing.
“In my eyes I had a fantastic two years under Louis van Gaal. I had a brilliant education as assistant manager of Manchester United. I managed the club for four matches which is invaluable experience.
“I have done the apprenticeship I have just not done the real thing yet.
“I have a lot to give after playing at United for 20-odd years, plus my coaching role at United on top.
“But I am not under pressure to get into a job. I am in a good position. I am happy with life at the moment and if a job comes up, that I am interested in I will look at it, if not, I will get on with doing what I am doing.
“The technical observer work I do for UEFA at Champions League games is great. I plan to go to visit other sports and other clubs and see how they work and carry on my education but in the meantime I have that nice balance. I have loads on."
Ryan Giggs was talking exclusively to MEN Sport at the Class of '92s launch of their football academy for Salford City FC in conjunction with Trafford College. Twenty-one 16-year-olds have been chosen for Academy 92 to work with the college to co-ordinate their football, education and life skills.
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