In an interesting twist in the club vs. country saga, Ryan Giggs will be offered the chance to manage the Welsh national team, but his commitment to Manchester United should ruin the chance - at least for now.
Giggs has never hid his ambition to one day become a manager - with both United and the Wales jobs top on his wish list.
However, it brings up the question: can he be as successful as some of the other Sir Alex Ferguson's prodigies that have entered the management?
Once he enters into management, and its really just a matter of time, he will join the likes of Alex McLeish (Birmingham City), Steve Bruce (Sunderland) and Mark Hughes (Fulham) as managers who have played for the United manager and followed in his footsteps down the management path.
Once he hangs up his boots, Giggs will be seen as one of the greatest - if not the greatest - player to have ever pulled on the United shirt, but that does not always mean that he will become a great manager, because more than likely, the opposite will happen.
The new United Trinity of Giggs, Gary Nevile and Paul Scholes, who are still instrumental for Ferguson in guiding the youngsters, have all started their coaching badges to enter in management once their magnificent playing days come to an end.
What is interesting about Giggs - as well Scholes - is that they are not the the typical boisterous-type of player on the field as Bruce or Hughes were for United, so he would have to learn to get a stern voice and hairdryer type of attitude, because as we have seen players nowadays do not listen very well to their respective managers.
If you really think about it, though, Giggs is already in management with United, because Ferguson goes to him for advice on certain players.
So far this season, Giggs has only made one start (against West Ham United), and in that game he was not named captain, which could mean that he is in his last season with the club. Per club rules, he has only signed a one-year contract extension, which will run to the end of the current season, so if the opportunity is still open then, Giggs could very well be in line for the job.
Impossible
It is strenuous enough on players to play for their country and club, so there is absolutely no possible way that Giggs could play for both United and manage Wales - especially with Ferguson not wanting his important players to be away from the club.
The Welsh Wizard has a tough decision to make, but if he decides to take on the managerial responsibility then his playing career is all but over, and even at 36, he has gas still left in the tank to be a vital player for United for this season and next.
Let's face it, though, Wales is an outside favorite, at best, to reach Euro 2012, so would it be worthwhile for someone who has been playing non-stop for the last 19+ years to manage a country part-time? Never.
Giggs would get burned out very quickly, which is why most managers elect to coach internationally towards the end of their careers - not with their first job. Well, unless you are Mark Hughes, and look how long he stayed with Welsh national team - just five years - until he bolted for the Blackburn Rovers position.
Another option for Giggs would be to take on the position part-time with another coach, but as United supporters have seen throughout his career, the winger has never done unless he is fully committed to the cause.
Ryan Giggs is Manchester United through and through, so the offer from the Football Association of Wales would have to be significant if it were to pry him away from the club he has spent close to 20 years playing for, and if not, they will just have to wait another two years until they fire their next manager.
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
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