Ryan Giggs Has the Chance to Prove Himself as a Future Manchester United Manager

Ryan Giggs hasn't had to wait very often.

He was a Manchester United player at 17 and a Welsh international before his 18th birthday. He was a Premier League champion at 19 and an FA Cup winner at 20.

But not even he could have imagined that less that a year after taking on his first coaching role he would be manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world.

He will take charge of United for at least the next four games after taking over from David Moyes, who was sacked on Tuesday.

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But it's not an audition for the top job. Not yet. That would be too soon even for Giggs.

There would be a romance about Giggs getting the job on a permanent basis.

From the shy 14-year-old schoolboy who turned up to train at The Cliff for the first time to the most powerful man at the club. Like the lad who makes it from tea boy to CEO. They could make a film about it. Michael Sheen would play Giggs.

Giggs was the obvious choice take over once the board decided to axe Moyes. He's popular with the fans and respected in the dressing room.

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But even Moyes, with 11 years as a Premier League manager at Everton, was criticised for not having the CV required of a United manager. And Giggs is even more inexperienced.

It is, though, a chance for him to discover whether it's the path he wants to go down. 

He's in the process of collecting his coaching badges. But there are plenty of options open to retired footballers.

One Class of '92 team-mate, Gary Neville, has become a television pundit. Another, David Beckham, has bought an MLS franchise.

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These next four games, and possibly the pre-season tour, will give Giggs a taste of management. 

He will gain valuable experience in leading training sessions, preparing a team tactically and mentally and learning to deal with the intense media scrutiny. 

It'll be a crash course in management unrivalled by any badge. And it will only help his cause if he does want the job permanently one day.

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After Moyes' reign ended in disaster, it is not the time to gamble on another inexperienced manager. That's why the list of candidates this time is full of big names with packed CVs.

This is just the first step for Giggs.

But if he enjoys the same success as a coach as he has as a player, his time will come eventually.

It's just one opportunity he might have to wait for.