Giggs: “I want to be prepared”

Ryan Giggs has made the next step towards a future career in coaching and management completing the first block of the UEFA Pro-Licence at St. George’s Park this week.

After outlining his ambitions to one day become a manager, the Manchester United legend lauded the influence of his long-standing tutor: Sir Alex Ferguson.

“[Sir Alex brings] a mixture of a lot of things: hunger, desire and hard work. He has been in management for a long time and he also understands that you have to evolve with the game,” explained Giggs.

“He embraces everything. When he started he had four or five staff to now having to manage probably ten or twelve staff with the first-team.That is again something he embraces and something he has enjoyed doing.”

The 39 year-old joined 21 other candidates, including former Old Trafford teammates Paul Ince and Gary Neville, on the prestigious coaching course which is mandatory for those with ambitions of coaching in Premier League and European competitions.

Many Old Trafford alumni have graduated from the pitch to the technical area and the Welsh midfielder believes all those who have plied their trade at Old Trafford have had the opportunity to learn from the best.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better teacher or someone to look up to really. I think it is no coincidence that so many ex-players who have gone on to be managers have played under Sir Alex.

“If you want to learn from the best then you obviously will do that by playing under him.”

Giggs has played under Ferguson throughout a decorated one-club career that has so far brought two Champions League winners’ medals, 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

However, for all his silverware, Giggs, who also has 609 league appearances to his name, stressed the importance of patiently learning his new trade.

“I would like to see both sides [coaching and management]. First of all, though, I would probably like to do a bit of coaching, and then ultimately see where that takes me.

“But first and foremost I want to make sure I have all the correct qualifications, and I am doing it whilst I am playing so that when I do finish I am prepared.”

The full interview with Ryan Giggs will be published in April’s edition of The Boot Room, The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club magazine