Louis van Gaal has backed Ryan Giggs to succeed him as the next Manchester United manager when his tenure eventually comes to an end.
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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 the Dutchman's arrival at the club in the summer.
And Van Gaal -- speaking at a charity tribute dinner for Giggs at Old Trafford attended by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson -- said he has been hugely impressed by what he has seen from the Welshman since the pair started working together.
"[When] this Van Gaal is over, he [Giggs] is the man [to replace me]," the United boss 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 have seen a lot of trainees and 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."