Ryan Giggs has revealed that emotions overcame him after his retirement from Manchester United was confirmed.
Giggs, who played until he was 40, officially played his last match for the Red Devils against Southampton where he was also a caretaker manager after the club sacked David Moyes mid-season in 2014. Giggs went on to become the club’s assistant coach under Louis Van Gaal but left when the Dutchman was sacked and Jose Mourinho appointed.
“I’d had three weeks in the job and I put myself under so much pressure. I felt the players had given a lot and my own playing career was over. It was also not knowing what was next. So when I got in the car all my emotion came out.” Giggs told The Guardian.
The Wales coach added that he was never promised the managerial position at Old Trafford and that it was Van Gaal who, at one point told the club’s Executive Officer Ed Woodward that Giggs should succeed him after his time ended.
“No, it was more Louis [van Gaal] who said it. You know how Louis is. He told Ed Woodward [United’s executive vice-chairman]: ‘I will be the manager for three years and then Ryan will take over.’ [Giggs laughs.] Typical Louis. No one else made me any promises. I didn’t think I was ready when I finished playing but, after working with Louis, I felt more than prepared. I know it didn’t work out for United but Louis was brilliant for me because he is a teacher.” Giggs responded when asked whether he was promised the Old Trafford hot seat.
Giggs, in the interview, added that his former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the right man to succeed Mourinho permanently in the summer United boss.
