A banner draped over one of the giant stands at Old Trafford reads: “Giggs — Tearing You Apart Since 1991.”
His face is ubiquitous on merchandise sold in the club store at Old Trafford and by the scarf-sellers just outside. He part-owns a soccer-themed hotel in the shadow of the iconic stadium.
Ryan Giggs is part of the furniture at Manchester United, and for good reason. He joined the club in 1987 as a 14-year-old and played a record 963 times for the first team. To many, he is Mr Manchester United.
Photo: Reuters
But for how much longer?
Jose Mourinho’s imminent appointment as United coach, which British media reported on Wednesday is being delayed because of negotiations over his image rights, is set to usher in one of the most exciting eras in its history. However, it could also be one of the saddest, potentially spelling the end — albeit maybe briefly — of Giggs’ near-29-year association with England’s most prestigious team.
Since ending his one-club playing career in 2014, Giggs has been assistant coach to former United coach Louis van Gaal and supposedly was being groomed as United’s next coach. However, Mourinho is likely to bring his long-time No. 2, Rui Faria, as assistant at United, with British media are reporting that Giggs is to be offered another role.
Giggs, 42, has a decision to make: Stay on at Old Trafford, this time further down the ranks of the backroom staff or off the radar, maybe in charge of the under-21 side; or fly solo at another club.
Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel urged Giggs to take the latter option.
“His dream is one day to manage Manchester United and I think to be equipped for that, he has to go away. He has to manage other clubs, standing on his own two feet, making decisions, producing results, getting his own ideas in. For him, it would be a good idea to go somewhere else,” Schmeichel told Sky Sports.
Continuing his coaching apprenticeship at another club — Everton, for example, have a vacancy, while a clutch of lower-league clubs would surely be desperate for a coach of Giggs’ stature — is a gamble. Fail, and United might think twice about going down the Giggs route in the future. He would also be out of the loop at Old Trafford.
There is no guarantee he would be a success in management, either. Sure, he is British soccer’s most decorated player — the winner of 13 English Premier League titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup and a Club World Cup — and he has had the experience of coaching United for four games at the end of the 2013-2014 season, on a temporary basis after former United coach David Moyes’ departure.
However, great players do not necessarily make great managers. Bobby Charlton and Roy Keane enjoy legendary status at United, but are among those who never quite took to being coaches.
Learning his trade elsewhere would be a massive culture shock for Giggs, who has walked out — as a player or a coach — in front of more than 75,000 people most weeks in recent years, although starting out as a coach away from the full glare of one of the world’s top leagues could be beneficial.
“It is all down to personal preference, isn’t it?” said Paul Scholes, Giggs’ friend and longtime teammate at United. “If he wants to go away and manage, I am sure he will be very good at it, but I think it will be sad if he left the club, if he went away. He has been there 20-odd years, he knows the place inside out, knows how the club works, what kind of football is expected. I think it will be a real disappointment if he did leave.”
If Giggs stays, he would again be touted as the next in line to be coach — just like he was when Van Gaal was hired. How long is Mourinho likely to stick around for? If the Portuguese coach is a success, it could be for longer than his reported initial three-year deal. Where would that leave Giggs?
There is talk of the Welshman being offered the chance to coach United’s under-21, team but it might not be enough to satisfy him.
Mourinho is expected to be hired today, although the appointment has been complicated by the fact that Chelsea owns the trademark to his name and his signature. EU Intellectual Property Office records show that the London club owns the trademark for five classes of goods until March 31, 2025. It covers various items from umbrellas to watch straps.
The BBC reported that United might need to pay a six-figure sum to obtain the rights.
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