Ryan Giggs Considering Coaching Options Beyond Man United Should Be No Surprise

Ryan Giggs had a playing career that might never be matched. In 24 years as a professional, he played more than 1,000 senior games.

He won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League twice before retiring at the age of 40. It's quite a record.

If nothing else, at Manchester United he learned the value of hard work. He was given his debut at 17 by Sir Alex Ferguson because he had earned it. 

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He was allowed to play on until he was 40, not because of his name, but because he was still good enough. He wouldn't have had it any other way. And neither would Ferguson.

Now a coach with ambitions to become a manager, it's no different. He was chosen as caretaker manager when David Moyes was sacked because he was the perfect candidate to lead the team through a difficult period. 

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He was given a job on Louis van Gaal's backroom staff this season because he was seen as the perfect link between the players he knows so well and the new management team.

It shouldn't, though, be a surprise to hear Giggs talk to Emily Heward of the Manchester Evening News about moving away from Old Trafford to earn his stripes as a manager.

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You never say never with anything in life and especially in football but at the moment I'm just concentrating on the short-term future and that's at United.

It's like an apprenticeship, it's like starting out as a footballer, you've got to learn your trade and that's what I'm doing.

Growing up as a child supporting United, and then obviously being lucky enough to play for so many years, I never actually thought I would be in charge of the team.

It was a challenge, it was totally out of my comfort zone, but one that I enjoyed. I put myself under a lot of pressure because I wanted to win four games out of four.

Unfortunately we didn't but I loved every minute of it and the players reacted really well and the fans reacted really well. In that respect it couldn't have gone any better.

It was a great experience and one that I couldn't have foreseen happening so soon.

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Giggs' ultimate ambition is to manage United on a permanent basis. How could it not be? But just like his debut and every trophy he won, it's something that has to be earned.

If Moyes, with 11 years in the Premier League behind him, was thought by some to lack the experience needed to succeed at Old Trafford, then Giggs has got some work to do.

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Giggs is unlikely to be considered as United's manager until he's got management experience. It's the reason he wasn't on the shortlist in the summer.

Before every big break during Giggs' playing career, he had already proved it was deserved.

And if he's hoping to be as successful as a United manager as he was a United player, he'll first have to earn the chance. It's something he's had to do throughout his career.