Football
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Manchester United exit could spark Ryan Giggs' coaching career - Coleman

Chris Coleman feels his former Wales teammate Ryan Giggs could benefit from his 28-year association with Manchester United coming to an end.

Giggs' future at Old Trafford is unclear with Louis van Gaal's reign now over and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho tipped as the man to replace him.

Whether assistant manager Giggs, who joined United on his 14th birthday in November 1987 and went on to become the club's most decorated player in making a record 963 appearances, stays at Old Trafford remains to be seen.

But Wales boss Coleman believes Giggs could actually benefit from a change of scenery and prove that is he the man to manage United one day.

"It will be hard for him to leave [United] but it might also give him that little bit of a spark,'' said Coleman.

"It would be a new challenge for him, something different and out of his comfort zone.

"He's a legend at United, but if he goes somewhere else he may find that little bit of a spring in his step.

"He's never been afraid of a challenge, I know that.

"He's a determined character and it could work in his favour coming away from something he's known for so long because you can get a bit stale.

"I'm not saying that he has, but it might be a bit of a kick-start for him.''

Giggs has spent the three seasons since Alex Ferguson's retirement as United's No. 2, first to David Moyes and then in the last two years to Van Gaal.

And Coleman has no qualms that Giggs can make the step up and become a manager in his own right.

"As a man, has Giggsy got what it takes? Yes, definitely,'' said Coleman.

"He's quite quiet but underneath that there is a very determined and strong character and a person the players will like.

"He's got all that experience working with Moyes and Van Gaal, and obviously his time with Fergie as well, and could definitely do the job.

"Whether he's a good coach, I don't know. I've never seen him coach but he can get someone in for that.

"Man United is a massive job. So maybe he would be better going and cutting his teeth somewhere else and proving he has what it takes to then go back there.''

Coleman's own future is no longer the subject of speculation after he signed a two-year contract extension to lead Wales in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The 45-year-old had been linked with Aston Villa and Swansea after leading Wales to Euro 2016 next month, the country's first major tournament for 58 years.

But Coleman said it was always his intention to stay with Wales, and he expressed delight that his contract had been resolved before the Euros.

Coleman said: "If Wales had said 'look, here it is, are you happy?' and I was happy, but went into the finals and thought, 'hang on a minute, if we do this, that and the other then I am going to have an opportunity here or there' -- then I would have been a huge hypocrite.

"I have said all along how important Wales is to me. To use Wales like that and the situation like that is poor really.

"I would never do that. I am glad it's settled and there is no more uncertainty.

"I'm glad I have another two years because, let's be honest, in my first two years I was lucky to get a second two.

"But I got another crack and it went great. Now I have a chance for a third campaign.''

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