• Premier League

Van Gaal: Giggs the man to succeed me

ESPN staff
September 29, 2014
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Louis van Gaal has backed Ryan Giggs to succeed him as the next Manchester United manager when his Old Trafford tenure eventually comes to an end.

Louis van Gaal has enjoyed working with Ryan Giggs since arriving at Old Trafford © Getty Images
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Giggs, who took charge of United on a temporary basis last season following David Moyes' dismissal, was appointed as Van Gaal's assistant coach upon his arrival at the club in the summer.

Speaking at a charity tribute dinner for Giggs at Old Trafford attended by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Gaal said he has been hugely impressed by what he has seen from his assistant since the pair started working together.

"[When] this Van Gaal is over, he [Giggs] is the man [to replace me]," Van Gaal is quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

"I have seen a lot of trainees and I have thought that Ryan Giggs is a trainee but he isn't a trainee, he is an exception. I am very happy with him because he has showed already that he can communicate with the group in front of him.

"And I have seen that he can explain what is the issue of the training session. And he can say it in a different way, which is a miracle because not so many ex-players can do that. But not only that, Ryan, you are in my opinion a very nice guy and that's for me the most important thing."

Van Gaal added: "He is so modest, so normal, and he is such a great star. He is the star of the evening and really deserves that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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