Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has left his role at Salford City in a bid to pick up a new manager’s role, according to a report.
Giggs, 51, hasn’t been in charge of a side since leaving his role with Wales in June 2022 as he prepared for trial after being arrested on suspicion of assault, which he was cleared of.
He has been working as director of football at League Two Salford City – the team owned by a group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville. He has also been helping out manager Karl Robinson on matchdays.
But, according to The Sun, Giggs is now no longer involved in day-to-day activities at the club as he seeks out a return to management.
The former United winger had been backed for a successful career in coaching, having first taken up a post with his former side as interim manager following the sacking of David Moyes in 2014.
He went onto work at United as assistant manager between 2014 and 2016, before taking up the full time post with Wales and helping them qualify for Euro 2020.
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has reportedly stepped back from his role with Salford City in order to return to management
Giggs, pictures alongside girlfriend Zara Charles, had been working as director of football at Salford, as well as helping out on a match day
He missed the 2021 finals, though, with Rob Page taking over following his arrest. Giggs officially resigned in 2022, with Page taking over permanently.
The jury involved in his assault case failed to reach a verdict after he was charged with assault that caused actual bodily harm to Kate Greville as well as coercive and controlling against her. Two weeks before a retrial, Giggs, who denied the charges, was cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew charges. Greville was unwilling to give evidence in the retrial.
Since then, he has returned to football with Salford, but seemingly feels now is the right time to take a step back to try and breathe new life into his managerial career.
He had previously expressed his desire to do so, saying in January: ‘I had the stint as Wales manager and loved it.
‘Eventually I’d like to get back into management. On matchday I still get as excited as ever, probably more than ever.’
As a player, he won 13 Premier League titles with United – all under Sir Alex Ferguson – and made 963 appearances for the club, as well as 64 for Wales.
Earlier this month, he was once again left off the Premier League’s Hall of Fame shortlist, despite several of his former Manchester United team-mates being put forward.
The Old Trafford great, a 13-time league winner and the competition’s all-time assist leader with 162, has never been nominated since the Hall of Fame was created in 2021.
He made 936 appearances for United and also had a stint as assistant manager before taking over at Wales
He left his role with Wales in 2022 as he prepared for trial after being arrested on suspicion of assault, which he was cleared of
His omission comes as his legacy continues to be clouded by scandal. As well as his arrest, Giggs was exposed for an affair with his brother’s wife Natasha, took out a gagging order over a fling with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, and later saw his marriage collapse.
This year’s shortlist again includes a strong Manchester United presence. Patrice Evra and Teddy Sheringham have been nominated for the first time, joining Neville, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar andMichael Owen, who were all previously shortlisted.
