Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend to confirm departure from Old Trafford within next 24 hours

The former Wales international will not work as part of Jose Mourinho's backroom team

Giggs became the club's assistant manager following Van Gaal's appointment in 2014 (Getty)

Ryan Giggs is set to officially confirm his departure from Manchester United within the next 24 hours after deciding to end his 29-year association with the club following Jose Mourinho’s appointment as manager.

The 42-year-old, who has spent the last two years as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, had considered remaining at the club to work under Mourinho, despite the prospect of being demoted to a lesser role due to the former Chelsea manager’s desire to appoint long-serving assistant Rui Faria as his number two.

However, after spending the closed season considering his options, Giggs has now decided to leave United and pursue a career in management.

Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, is understood to have made it clear to Giggs that a role would be found for him at the club had he chosen to stay on and work with Mourinho.

And there remains a desire for Giggs, who holds the club’s all-time appearance record having played 963 times for the first-team, to return to Old Trafford as manager in the future once he has built experience in the role elsewhere.

Having been handed a coaching role by David Moyes following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Giggs was promoted to the assistant manager position by Van Gaal when the Dutchman succeeded Moyes in the summer of 2014.

Giggs had been given the understanding that he would succeed Van Gaal at the end of his three-year contract as manager, but with the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach being sacked at the end of last season, United’s move to hire to Mourinho left Giggs facing an uncertain future.

With close friend Gary Neville lasting just six months in management before being sacked by Valencia last season, Giggs was aware of the risks attached to leaving United and attempting to prove himself in management elsewhere.

But with the prospect of taking a junior role under Mourinho not appealing to Giggs, he has now chosen to walk away from the club before the start of pre-season training under the new regime next Wednesday.

With Wales due to play Belgium in a Euro 2016 quarter-final in Lille tonight, Giggs had been keen to delay an announcement on his decision until after the game.