Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Louis van Gaal latest: Ryan Giggs will remain with Manchester United, predicts Steve Bruce

Bruce captained Giggs during his time at Old Trafford and feels that the midfielder-turned interim manager will be offered a role to remain with the club

Agency
Tuesday 06 May 2014 12:21 BST
Comments
Ryan Giggs pictured after Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at Old Trafford
Ryan Giggs pictured after Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at Old Trafford (GETTY IMAGES)

Steve Bruce is sure Manchester United will find a role worthy of Ryan Giggs at the end of the season, but has jokingly offered him a job at Hull should he leave Old Trafford.

Giggs is United's most decorated player and offers an unrivalled link to two decades of success at the club, but his future beyond the current campaign is unclear.

He is currently in caretaker charge of the team following David Moyes' sacking, but Dutch coach Louis van Gaal is widely expected to take the mantle in the summer.

Where Giggs would fit in a Van Gaal administration is unclear, while at 40 years old his playing career is equally uncertain.

Tigers boss Bruce, who remains close to Giggs having captained the Welshman at United during his own playing days, has no doubt the Red Devils will retain him in a prominent position - on or off the pitch - and does not expect his light-hearted job offer to be taken up.

"He can come and see out his days at the KC Stadium, playing in the Europa League. If he's available on a free, I'd take him," laughed Bruce, whose Hull side visit United on Tuesday night.

"It's a difficult one to call. If it is Van Gaal for United, I'm sure he'll have his own opinions. But there's always going to be a place for Ryan, I'm sure, because he's been a great.

"I'm sure they'll find a space for him somewhere. I don't think he'll leave.

"He will be treated properly, I'm convinced of that. He'll have some role to play.

"They'll not mess him about, that's for sure."

Bruce even went against the common consensus that Van Gaal's appointment is all but a done deal and suggested Giggs could still be handed the top job.

And if United did leave the fan favourite in position, Bruce has no doubt he would deliver.

"Everyone's saying it's going to be Van Gaal but we're speculating," he said. "It could still be Ryan.

"We've seen Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klinsmann and Kenny Dalglish do it (go straight into a top management job).

"He might need someone to work alongside to help him in his early days, but it still might be him.

"I think the way he handled his first press conference proved to me that he can be as good as he wants to be.

"If he wants to do it, make no mistake, he'll be a success.

"He's driven that way. He's single-minded enough. To have the career he's had, you need determination and desire. He's got that in abundance. He's a tough so-and-so."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in