Giggs brings curtain down on his international career

'It was a hard decision for me to quit international football but I felt it would help my career and I was proved right really,' says Giggs (GETTY IMAGES)

Ryan Giggs has told The Independent that he will not play for Wales again, removing the last hopes of his own nation that Gary Speed's installation as manager might tempt him out of retirement.

"Playing [for Wales] probably no," Giggs said. "It was a hard decision for me to quit international football but I felt it would help my career and I was proved right really. In the little breaks you get during the season I'm able to go away, chill out, train and be ready for the games for United. The manager doesn't play me every game. So it would be difficult to go back, I think."

In his first in-depth interview since becoming Wales manager, Speed tells The Independent today that he anticipates discussing with the 37-year-old next week the idea of his involvement in the coaching side of the international set-up and Giggs, who retired from the international scene in 2007, did not rule out the idea of using the international set-up as a springboard to a managerial career, whilst playing out his Manchester United career. "It's hard to talk about because he [Speed] has not really approached me but it is something I would sit down and talk to the manager about; talk to Gary about, yes, because I would love to be involved in getting Wales to a major tournament."

Last year, Sir Alex Ferguson ridiculed the idea when Giggs left the door open to the prospect of playing for Wales by saying in an "emergency" he would "think about" it. "Ryan? You must be joking," the United manager said.