Ryan Giggs has said he would be happy to start his managerial career in lower league football should the right job come along.
The Manchester United legend recently left his position as the club’s assistant manager after new boss Jose Mourinho failed to offer him a position.
Giggs told MM that the Premier League was not his only option.
He said: “The only thing is good owners who play football the right way.
“Do you want to go to a Premier League club where you’re firefighting and the owners have a reputation of firing someone after six months, or do you go to a League One team where they have a reputation of giving managers a chance and giving youth a chance? I would pick that.”
The Welshman has been linked with multiple Premier League jobs since his retirement from the game three years ago and was United interim manager for the last four games of the 2013/14 season following David Moyes’ sacking.
He also spoke to MM about the need to return to football, pointing to his work in Greater Manchester where he holds a position at Salford City FC and is involved in projects such as Hotel Football and the newly opened Café Football.
He said: “I think with football it can surprise you, there can be an opportunity that can come up or it can be like this year where not that many opportunities have come up and I have been quite happy with that.
“I’ve been busy enough with all the other stuff I do so I’m not in any rush to go into a job and I’m not in a position where I need to rush into a job which is good.”
LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES: Giggs was at the National Football Museum to announce the opening of Café Football
Giggs, who holds the honour of being the most decorated British footballer of all time, sees management as his future but is careful not to snatch at the first opportunity that comes his way.
He says he will consider jobs as they become available and does not have a firm goal for his career over the next few years.
He said: “It’s very dangerous in football to look more than a year or two forward.
“I never did that as a player and I’m not going to do that as a coach either because things can change quite quickly, especially in this climate, where you can lose a few games and you’re under pressure to lose your job.
“Then, you win a few games and you’re the best thing since sliced bread. That’s the business, things can change very quickly.”
However, he did say that management was in the front of his mind and he felt he was at a point where if he was to take a job it would likely be as a manager.
CLASS OF 92: Giggs’ ex-teammate Gary Neville, who tried his hand in management at Valencia, speaking at the launch
“It’s going to be my first job and I’m not in a position where I need to desperately get into a job. I don’t need to do that but also I’ve done my pro license and I’ve done all my qualifications.
“I had two years as assistant at United so I’ve done the apprenticeship and it would be a shame if I don’t go into a job.”
Giggs was speaking at the opening of the new Café Football in Manchester which he and Gary Neville have taken charge of as part of their company GG Hospitality.
Projects like this have fuelled the former footballer and given him a purpose outside the game.
He noted that people often overlook how short a pros career is but it can be tough when someone retires and life suddenly changes.
“We were the lucky ones,” he said, speaking of himself Neville and other members of the ‘Class of ‘92′.
“We had long careers in football but even for us it can end at 36 or 37, some people are just starting careers then.
“You realise that it can be a short career and also, if you get an injury, it can be even shorter.
“You’re used to a routine you’re used to going in every morning and training. Last year I was a coach and you get used to that structure, going in to the same place every day at 10 o’clock and then as soon as that goes then you have got to fill your days.”
With the start of a new season fast approaching and pre-season for a lot of clubs starting already it seems unlikely that Giggs will be in a job by August.
Nonetheless he appears not to be phased by this and is happy to wait for the perfect first job.
Images courtesy of Phil Tragen Photo, with thanks.
