Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Ryan Giggs would have become Manchester United manager by now if he had hung up his boots a bit earlier.

Giggs is one of the most decorated players in Premier League history and as a testament to his wonderful career, the former winger played at the highest level for United into his 40's.

Red Devils legend Giggs is now serving as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal and many believe that the Welshman will eventually go on to replace the Dutchman at the helm of Old Trafford.

Now, Ferguson has backed Giggs to become United manager and has stated that the 41-year-old would have already been managing the Red Devils if he had retired from playing a few years before he actually did.

In the BBC documentary 'Sir Alex Ferguson: Secrets of Success', Ferguson said: "If Ryan Giggs had retired six, seven years ago.

"Say he had retired at, say, 35, quite likely I would have made him my assistant and quite likely he could have moved straight into the job with the experience of being an assistant manager to me as he is doing with Louis Van Gaal at the moment. But I would never have asked a player to quit."

The claims took the man in question by surprise as the documentary then cut to an astonished Giggs, who says: "He said that?

"It would have been great for me personally to work under Sir Alex."