GIGGS’ DEBT TO MENTOR LOUIS
DUTCHMAN GAVE GIGGS A VITAL COACHING INSIGHT
RYAN GIGGS has hailed Louis van Gaal as a key mentor in his progress as a manager.
Wales boss Giggs worked asVan Gaal’s No2 at Manchester United for two years, before leaving in 2016 when the Dutchman made way for Jose Mourinho.
Giggs played all his club career at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, but said working alongside Van Gaal had given him a valuable insight into coaching and tactics.
Asked what it was like working with managers other than Ferguson, Giggs said: “A different approach, different people, different personalities.
“Obviously I had different international managers, but that’s only obviously a short space of time. That’s why I talk about Louis, regarding my coaching, because I was two years in the meetings and taking responsibility.
“I talk so fondly of him because that was really my first coaching role, whereas, when you’re playing, you don’t know the preparation. You don’t know what the manager’s seen on the videos.
“It was more sort of the manmanagement and the different things that Sir Alex would do that
I’ve picked up on. Whereas with Louis, I’ve seen first-hand why you play different systems, the reasons for this and that. It was a really good experience.”
Giggs managed United for four games on an interim basis in 2014 after David Moyes was sacked and said it convinced him about management.
“It was an amazing experience and one, really, that made my mind up that I wanted to become a manager,” said Giggs. “I would say up until then that I was still unsure. I felt comfortable in that position. It was a brilliant experience. I was still doing my pro-licence, but actually being in the job, having to make the decisions, all the pressure that you put yourself under, you can’t prepare yourself for that.” Giggs, who made a club record 963 appearances for United over a glittering 24-year period, said the thing he missed most about playing is training.
He told the official Manchester United podcast. “I don’t miss the games, I miss training. “You enjoy winning the trophies, playing well and scoring goals, but actually, the games, you don’t enjoy everything that surrounds it. “But training, I just loved it. I mean, playing football every day with your mates, it doesn’t get any better.” ●YOU can listen to the full Giggs interview from tonight, via the Manchester United website, App and other podcast platforms. Link: https://www.manutd.com/ en/official-podcasts RED DRAGON: Giggs became the boss of Wales in January 2018