Giggs Hints At Wales Boss Future

Ryan Giggs has given the strongest indication yet that he will one day become Wales manager.

The Manchester United winger won 64 caps for his country, also leading Wales as captain, before retiring from international football in June 2007.

"I think if you've played for your country and want to go into coaching or management, that has got to be the ultimate job to do," Giggs said.

Giggs, who turns 36 this month, has already taken coaching qualifications.

Last year Giggs, United's most decorated player with 22 major trophies, completed the A Licence course required by Uefa, European football's governing body, to become a professional coach.

Once Giggs gets some more practical coaching on the training pitch under his belt he will be eligible to take the Uefa Pro Licence - the next step to managing a top-flight club in Europe.

Of course Giggs need not manage a club side before becoming an international boss, as demonstrated by current Manchester City chief Mark Hughes who took the Wales reins as his first job in management.

With Sir Alex Ferguson, his boss at United, using Giggs sparingly and the player still able to perform at the top level, it seems the day he hangs up his boots may still be some time away.

But it seems certain now that Giggs, the reigning Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year, will become a full-time coach once his playing career ends, with Old Trafford and Wales likely to be the major beneficiaries.

Giggs is one of the finest players never to qualify for a major international finals, still regrets not playing on the biggest stage with Wales.

But he is determined that Wales will, one-day soon, break into the elite for the first time since the 1958 World Cup finals and create a momentum that would leave a legacy for Welsh football's future.

"The build-up [to a major tournament] gets you excited as a fan; I can only imagine what it's like as a player and I'll never experience that," said Giggs, speaking to the Independent on Sunday.

"We should be making sure long-term that Wales get to a major championship.

"That would have a massive effect on kids coming through.

"If they're torn whether to choose rugby or football, which is a big issue in Wales, and they watch a European Championship or World Cup with their national team in, they might just concentrate on football."