Former Manchester United player/assistant manager Ryan Giggs was heavily linked to the Swansea job before the appointment of Bob Bradley.
When Francesco Guidolin was sacked following Swansea’s 2-1 defeat at home to Liverpool in the league, a number of names became linked with the new vacancy, including a certain Ryan Giggs.
Despite no previous experience in the managerial hot seat, other than a four game stint care-taking his beloved Manchester United, Giggs has been linked with a host of jobs since departing Old Trafford in the summer including the recent post at Swansea.
Ryan Giggs during his time as Louis van Gaal’s assistant manager
As a player the Welshman boasts one of the most impressive CV’s around, but the South Wales club were right to choose a seasoned veteran in American Bob Bradley. There is no doubt that Giggs will have plenty of admirers in the game having worked under managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Louis Van Gaal, and the right opportunity will present itself sooner rather than later, but the Swansea job isn’t the right opportunity.
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The Swans have lost five of their opening seven league games, including three defeats on the bounce, with Guidolin gone the Welsh side needed an old hand with experience in difficult circumstances. Ryan Giggs’ know how has yet to been tested in the managerial game, the safest option to him would be to takeover at a club with a summer of preparation.
With Swansea in the midst of a slump on the pitch and tension already mounting between the supporters and the club’s new owners off the pitch, the job needed to go to someone who has managerial experience.
While carrying out punditry duties for ITV, The Guardian published comments made by Giggs of how Swansea’s ambitions did not match his, which ultimately led to Bob Bradley’s appointment. The remarks have not been received well by Swans fans, with some suggesting the former Wales International is rejecting good opportunities in favour of waiting around for a more appealing post.
Giggs was lucky to attract interest from a Premier League club, it’s highly unlikely that the Welshman’s first managerial job will be at one of the top teams – which is why his comments can be seen as disrespectful to Swansea supporters. While some fans may well have wanted to see Giggs take over at the Swans, his remarks have shown that he is not the right man to take the Welsh side forward. Bradley appears a more logical choice for now.
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