COMMENT: In the end, it was inevitable. Ryan Giggs had to leave Manchester United.
A fourth year as an assistant coach and the Welshman risked becoming one of those club 'stalwarts'. Always there. Always reliable. But never one to be given the keys to drive the thing.
Now, we'll see what he's made of.
What is his playing style? What's his system? His favoured formation? Can he drive players forward? Does he have the bottle to go at it with a chairman? Can he pick a player? Indeed, can he get on a phone and negotiate a fee for a player? These are all questions that Giggs' education at United fail to answer. Unlike Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique at Barcelona. Nor Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. For Giggs, there is no U21 or youth coaching record to point to. He needs to strike out on his own.
That's not to say he's a busted flush. The best in the game have insisted he's a United manager in waiting. Championed by Sir Alex Ferguson. Pushed by Louis van Gaal. Former teammates, now on the payroll as United ambassadors, to a man, had publicly backed Giggs ahead of Jose Mourinho. But the same was being said about another United legend just months previous - and we all know where Gary Neville stands now...
What's fascinating is the lack of hand wringing over Saturday's announcement. It was inevitable. Perhaps by an ever growing percentage of the United support, welcome. A realisation that United, at this stage in their history, had chosen the best man for the job. And it wasn't the club's favourite son.
Indeed, the Manchester Evening News even made the point of insisting Warren Joyce's departure as U21 coach would do the club greater harm. United had actually granted Joyce permission to interview for the Blackburn Rovers job before their appointment of Owen Coyle. And Tribalfootball.com understands Hull City had him on their shortlist in the event of Steve Bruce walking out on the KC this summer.
As was highlighted by the MEN, Joyce has not only overseen the emergence of the likes of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Jesse Lingard, but his work can also be attributed to Leicester City's title triumph, with Danny Simpson and Danny Drinkwater both United graduates. It's the sort of coaching record that Giggs, at this stage in his career, simply cannot match.
And when you consider the latest appointments to United's coaching panel, it's obvious that Giggs had been treading water.
Nick Cox has just been named head of academy operations at United. Head-hunted from Sheffield United, where he was in charge of the academy there. He also worked his way through Watford's youth system, where he proudly boasts 52 youngsters graduated into the pro game during his time in charge. That's 52 more than we can say about Giggs.
And then there's John Peacock, who has joined United as a youth consultant from Derby County. Twice he's won the U17 Euros as England coach. Need we say more? Neither Cox nor Peacock have the playing record of Giggs. Who has? But just as the Welshman leaves, they've found their way to United on a long record of success. Which is something Giggs now needs to work towards.
For Mourinho, it couldn't have worked out better. This has nowt to do with him. He doesn't take his place behind a desk at Carrington until Tuesday - officially. Giggs' pay-off - negotiated last week - and the announcement of his departure were all done while the new manager wasn't in town. There's doubts that even he and Giggs have actually spoken since his appointment. The decision, on the surface, was Giggs' and his alone. And with both the Welshman and the Eva Carneiro tribunal now just memories, Mourinho kicks off preseason this week with a clean slate.
For Giggs, this is the right decision. The uncertainty may've cost him the jobs at Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers. But there's still plenty of ambitious boards out there and great opportunities. Don't be surprised to hear Wolves making a beeline for Giggs this week. Kenny Jackett is still clinging on at the moment, but in Spain they reckon Julen Lopetegui, the former Porto coach, is talking to Molineux chiefs. If Wolves are seriously considering a change, they're sure to put in a call to Giggs.
After 29 years of having everything mapped out for him, Giggs has finally flown the nest. He's on his own. The jibber-jabber can stop. The 'what ifs' and 'could be's' are over. We'll now see if he has what it takes.
INJURY TIME
There's one way Gary Neville can silence us all. And that is take a manager's job in the Football League.
Sacked by Valencia. Blamed for England's Euros humiliation. Red Nev's reputation is at rock bottom. In terms of his football career, it's never been at a worse point. And the question remains... Gary, were you ever really serious about it?
That England job... actually scrub that. That England opportunity, could've gone to any of his generation. Any young, ambitious coach trying to get a leg up in the game. But it was given to Neville - and on a silver platter. Just as the Valencia job was handed to him. No coaching record to speak of. No pattern of play. Nothing. Just hours of punditry on Sky. Which apparently is where he wants to return next season.
However, if he was really serious about a coaching career. If he wanted to do justice to the opportunities he's blown. Neville should be trying to get his foot in the door of a Football League club. Any club. To prove to us all he has the stomach for it.
But don't hold your breath. That's a job for football men like Karl Robinson and Michael Appleton. Not for Keira Knightley's favourite pundit.
