Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has admitted that he would be open to managing the Welsh national team at some point in the future.
Giggs has been linked to the post in recent days with current manager John Toshack expected to announce his resignation after six years at the helm, although he will remain in the post until a successor is found.
And the 36-year old has said that, although he would find it difficult at the moment because he is still a major part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first team squad at Manchester United, he would be open to managing his country at some point. Indeed Giggs has already taken the first steps to a career in football management, having taken UEFA coaching badges.
“If you go into management, the big job is to be in charge of your country. And I’m no different in terms of thinking like that,” Giggs said in the Daily Telegraph.
“At the moment it is difficult, because I still have commitments as a player.
“But I always use the Sparky (Mark Hughes) situation.
“One minute he is playing for Wales and in the Premier League with Blackburn, then the next thing you know, he is managing his country.
“Sparky never really planned for that.”
Eric Harrison, who was in charge of the youth team at Manchester United that included Giggs and likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes, and who served as assistant manager to Mark Hughes during his time as Wales manager, has warned Giggs that if he was to take up the post, he would have to bring an end to his playing career.
“It is not a cushy little number and it is not a part-time post,” he said.
“You are at the sharp end of things and these days I don’t believe you could combine playing for a club at United’s level and managing an international team.
“When I was with Mark (Hughes) we’d be jetting off all over the place watching future opponents. Then you would be going up and down the country checking on your players.
“You couldn’t be playing for United at the weekend and be wondering and worrying about how the Welsh players are doing.
“If the vacancy does come up and Ryan is approached then he has a massive decision to make.”
