Ryan Giggs 'can't be a No 2 forever', and has to test himself as a manager, according to former Manchester United chief executive David Gill. Giggs is Louis van Gaal's assistant at Old Trafford, and is tipped as a future boss. But Gill, who was in charge of the club when Giggs was a player under Sir Alex Ferguson, suggested that he might need to test himself elsewhere before taking over at the club. 'I think that is something that Ryan will be thinking about and discussing it with the powers that be within Manchester United,' Gill told BBC Radio 5live. 'I don't disagree with the notion that you can't be a No 2 forever. You've got to go out and prove yourself, and demonstrate you've got what it takes and you can actually do it when you're in the firing line. I think, speaking to Alex over the years, and discussing his No 2s and their ability to be No 1, there are clearly different traits between being an excellent No 2 and being in the hot-seat as a No 1.' Giggs, who spent time as an interim manager before Van Gaal was appointed, has seen his career-path contrasted to former team-mate Gary Neville, who is now in charge at Valencia. United's manager Louis van Gaal is under pressure after his side lost to Southampton on Saturday But Gill, who worked with both men, insists there is no right way of doing things, as long as players take time learning how to manage. 'You need to do an apprenticeship, and apprenticeships can take different forms,' he added. 'In terms of Ryan, I'm not saying what he's doing now isn't the right apprenticeship, but there are different ways of doing it, and people will choose different routes. But without doubt you have to demonstrated you can be there and make the tough decisions.'
I think the best thing is Giggs goes and does his apprenticeship at a smaller club... like Real Madrid, and we'll have Zidane for a bit. Then when both have done well we can swap.
Gill is still a powerful voice on the board so I think that pretty much rules Giggs out of managing the club after LVG - other than as caretaker if LVG goes early
LVG will be out the moment it's mathematically impossible to get top 4 so his payoff is reduced Giggs should get a couple of months #theunitedway
There is nothing wrong on testing Giggs. Proving his skills can be a good idea since it will be a huge and difficult job to take after LVG. The next person who will take the job must have what it takes to make the players at their best.
Man U must get value out of the money they spend , not just spend for the sake of it because you have money to give big name managers to keep buying and changing teams to quickly . The timing might be right to throw LVG out and throw Giggs into the deep end .15 games to get his feet wet and a summer to put his stamp on the team , then reboot .If I was a young progressing player , I'd be more inspired by a legendary player with his arm around me than a high end manager looking to boost his own ego .
Not that I can see it actually happen - but I suspect it would all come down to how Giggs has been reacting to LvG's failure. If he has been seen by the players as a supporter of LvG then I doubt he can carry the dressing room - if he has been a neutral then he might just get away with it but there will always be a faction who will be asking why he didn't speak against Lvg's methods while he was still at the club. Tricky position to be in. By all means let him fill his boots as caretaker again but he really ought to cut his teeth somewhere else. Nothing to say he can't come back later on, plus by then the board will have a clearer idea of whether he has what it takes.
"CHANCE: Ryan Giggs believes he deserves an opportunity as United manager" http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/490388/Jose-Mourinho-Man-United-Premier-League
