In an interesting twist of the club vs. country saga, Ryan Giggs has turned down the chance to manage the Welsh national team, because of his commitment to Manchester United.
Giggs has never hid his ambition to manage one day with United and the top job in Wales on his hit list, and it brings up the point can he be the next one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s prodigies to enter management?
Alex McLeish, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes are three current Barclays Premier League managers who have played for Sir Alex and followed in his footsteps down the management path.
The new United Trinity of Giggs, Gary Nevile and Paul Scholes, who are still instrumental for Ferguson in guiding the youngsters, have all started their coaching badges to enter in management once their magnificent playing days come to an end.
What is interesting about Giggs – as well Scholes – is that they are not the the typical boisterous-type of player on the field as Bruce or Hughes were for United, so he would have to learn to get a stern voice and hairdryer type of attitude, because as we have seen players nowadays do not listen very well to their respective managers.
It is strenuous enough on players to play for their country and club, so there is absolutely no possible way that Giggs could play for both United and manage Wales – especially with Ferguson not wanting his important players to be away from the club.
The Welsh Wizard has a tough decision to make, but if he decides to take on the managerial responsibility then his playing career is all but over, and even at 36, he has gas still left in the tank to be a vital player for United for this season and next.
Let’s face it, though, Wales is an outside favorite, at best, to reach Euro 2012, so would it be worthwhile for someone who has been playing non-stop for the last 19+ years to manage a country part-time? Never.
Giggs would get burned out very quickly, which is why most managers elect to coach internationally towards the end of their careers – not with their first job. Well, unless you are Mark Hughes, and look how long he stayed with Welsh national team – just five years – until he bolted for the Blackburn Rovers position.
Another option for Giggs would be to take on the position part-time with another coach, but as United supporters have seen throughout his career, the winger has never done unless he is fully committed to the cause.
Ryan Giggs is Manchester United through and through, so the offer from the Football Association of Wales would have to be significant if it were to pry him away from the club he has spent close to 20 years playing for, and if not, they will just have to wait another two years until they fire their next manager.
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