Ryan Giggs will be given a role at Manchester United regardless of who the next manager will be, the Guardian reported yesterday. The club are keen to keep the Welshman at the club in some capacity even if the next manager is uninterested in keeping Giggs on the playing or coaching staff.
Louis van Gaal remains the clear front runner for the job, while Carlo Ancelotti is still on the radar but is unlikely to make the move from Real Madrid unless he gets the sack after failing in both La Liga and the Champions League.
The new coach would be under no pressure to retain any of the 'Class of 92' within the coaching structure - indeed, some commentators believe they should be excluded outright. However, United are keen to give Giggs a role somewhere along the club's coaching ladder.
Gigg's contract as a player will be up at the end of the current season but if the glowing words of second-choice 'keeper Anders Lindegaard are anything to go by, Giggs' coaching abilities would not be short of respect from his erstwhile teammates.
"I think we could definitely gain something from doing that," Lindegaard said. "In these last few games, we can put some markers down and have something to build upon next season.
"It's a great opportunity to win back more confidence for the team and the fans. I think this situation to do it in is almost perfect.
"We have someone guiding us like Ryan Giggs who everyone on the planet respects for what he has done in his football career. I must say he's been great and he has handled everything very professionally. He seems to have stepped in with a huge amount of authority and respect. He doesn't in any way seem overwhelmed. It's probably the most difficult management job on the planet right now and he's been doing great."
[Guardian]
