In an official statement on the Manchester United website, Ryan Giggs confirmed on Saturday that he would be leaving the club after 29 years.
The Welshman enjoyed a glittering playing career at Old Trafford that saw him help inspire the club to countless trophies, while he played his role in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era by taking his knowledge and experience to the sidelines.
Forever now regarded as a United legend, Giggs has been forced to consider his options away from Carrington for the time being, with Jose Mourinho’s arrival at the club resulting in a mini revolution of sort with various changes at coaching and playing level.
In turn, Giggs has felt it is the right decision for his future to take up a position elsewhere, and while he added that he wasn’t in any great rush to do so, he’ll be targeting a managerial post sooner rather than later.
So, is it the right decision? Absolutely. His choice would have been made with a heavy heart and deep emotion, but ultimately he needed to leave Old Trafford to further his own career.
The 42-year-old has been touted as a future United manager for a long time now, and yet the club have now snubbed him for a third consecutive time by going with a manager of the ilk of Mourinho, which is understandable.
Giggs needs to get a top job elsewhere and gain the type of experience and knowledge that he’s currently lacking, to understand how to deal with different levels of pressure and to deal with different characters in the dressing room.
From building a squad to facing the press week in week out and understanding what it takes to motivate a side to consistently deliver at a high level.
These are all things that he’ll have to learn away from United, and if still harbours ambitions of taking the job in the future, then he’ll be in a stronger position having taken this decision instead of sitting behind the likes of Mourinho and Rui Faria in Manchester for the next two years.
While his exit will be a bitter disappointment to many, it makes sense in the long run. Where Giggs goes next remains to be seen, but he’ll be better off for it.