Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has lifted the lid on his departure from the club over the summer, admitting that the time was right to leave when Jose Mourinho was appointed and brought his own backroom team to Old Trafford. Giggs was also looking for a break.
"It was the right time (to leave). There was a new manager and a new coaching staff," Giggs is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.
The former winger had spent the previous two years working as an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal - he had spent the 12 months before that as a player-coach under David Moyes - and was delighted to be able to learn from the Dutchman and the experience as a whole.
There were all sorts of conflictingrumours about whether Mourinho had offered Giggs a job in a bid to keep himor whether he had arrived and simply ignored the United legend. The real reason, however, seems a little simpler.
"It was a brilliant two years (since 2014)education wise, but it was a tough two years. I was ready for a break away from football," Giggs explained.
The 42-year-old hasn't held a job in football since his 29-year spell at United came to an end. Despite wanting to take that initial break, he was recentlyin the frame for the Swansea job until the club opted for the more experienced Bob Bradley.
The United job, which is rumoured to be what he wanted when Van Gaal was shown the door, remains the ultimate ambition for Giggs - either that or the Wales national team.
"I've always said for me, and for most people, you always want to manage the club you've played at. If you ask Steven Gerrard, he will want to manage Liverpool or England, and it's the same for me with United and Wales," he said.
"I played at United for so long, if the opportunity came to manage them it would be the ultimate."
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