Giggs Open On Future

Ryan Giggs says he is yet to map out the path that will follow his eventual retirement from football, but the Manchester United legend admits he is excited about the next chapter in his career.

Giggs is currently attending the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey as part of the UEFA Pro Licence course and has been widely tipped for success in either management or coaching following an illustrious playing career that has yielded 25 major honours and more than 1,000 matches for club and country.

Of course, the iconic Welshman is far from finished yet and is about to embark on an unprecedented 24th season at Old Trafford – his first without mentor Sir Alex Ferguson. But he is self-aware enough to know the end is near and is already planning for whatever might come next.

“It’s quite tough. I am sort of an intense person so when I am still playing I'm concentrating on that,” Giggs explained during an interview with The Football Association's official website. “But also, I have got to start thinking that it is near the end. I have to start thinking about what I am going to do afterwards.

“I am in the process of doing that and obviously coming on this course has helped me – speaking to other people, listening to what the coaches or tutors say, and just trying to get little bits that can help you. Everyone has their own style and everyone picks up different things.

“Obviously, I'd be stupid not to pick up on the stuff I've learnt from Sir Alex. I don’t know whether I am going to be a coach or a manager, if I decide to go into coaching, but it is obviously exciting for me. I have been playing for 20-odd years and it is a new chapter in my life.

“I want to do well and I want to make a success of it like I did as a player. It will be like starting all over again, like being an apprentice again. It will be learning new things and making mistakes as you go along, just trying to better yourself as much as you can.”

After finishing the UEFA Pro Licence course in Turkey, Giggs will then report back to United and new boss David Moyes, who officially takes charge on 1 July to begin one of the most anticipated managerial reigns in history. Ryan says he's raring to go.

“I think it is a challenge and as a player you always want challenges. First and foremost, there are great players there and we have just won the league, so everything is in place for it to carry it on.”