Ryan Giggs confirmed as new Wales manager

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 15 January 2018

Ryan Giggs is confirmed as the new manager of the Wales national side, taking over from Chris Coleman who stepped aside in November.

Ryan Giggs has landed his first full-time managerial position after being officially appointed as Chris Coleman's successor for the Wales national side.

The 44-year-old, whose only previous coaching experience came at Manchester United, edged out former teammate Craig Bellamy to land the role on a four-year deal.

Giggs and Bellamy were two of four Welshmen in the running to replace popular boss Coleman, who stepped down in November to take on the Sunderland job, with ex-assistants Mark Bowen and Osian Roberts - the latter expected to stay on in some capacity - also in contention.

Bellamy is said to have impressed Welsh football bosses during Thursday's interview in the Midlands, but Giggs is the man who has been backed to lead the Dragons into a new era.

Wales missed out on qualification to this summer's World Cup finals, agonisingly losing out on a qualifying playoff spot to Republic of Ireland, having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in the previous campaign.

Giggs, who made 64 appearances for Wales as a player between 1991 and 2007, will take charge of his side for the first time on March 22 away to China.