Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has praised outgoing assistant manager Ryan Giggs, claiming that the time was right for him to leave Old Trafford and saying that he has the "steel" to succeed in management.
The 42-year-old ended a 29-year stay at United after new boss Jose Mourinho decided not to retain him on his staff, opting instead for longtime associate Rui Faria.
Ferguson, who nurtured Giggs throughout his career at the Red Devils, told BBC Sport: "It is time Ryan stood on his own feet, got out there and accepted the challenge.
"I talk about his poker face. He has a bit of steel about him. It is such a highly intense results industry, you need people who go into it to have a bit of steel about them, a bit of character and personality.
"I think he is ready to manage and he has a lot of quality. He doesn't want to spoil that quality by going to a club where it is sacking a manager every two minutes."
From giving the Cardiff-born player his debut at 17, to his own retirement in 2013, Ferguson and Giggs shared 13 Premier League title successes, two Champions League wins, four FA Cup triumphs and four League Cup successes.
Giuseppe Labellarte
