Hughes backs Giggs for Wales job

Mark Hughes has backed Ryan Giggs for the vacant Wales job and believes the Manchester United great could benefit from the experience.

Giggs had a four-game spell as interim boss at United in 2014 following David Moyes’ sacking, but he has failed to land a permanent managerial job despite links to a number of clubs since leaving his assistant role at Old Trafford in 2016.

Chris Coleman’s resignation as Wales coach has presented another opportunity and Hughes – himself formerly the manager of his country – thinks now could be the right time for Giggs to take the next step.

“I think [Giggs] would be a candidate, I think he’d be a good choice – I’d recommend him,” the Stoke City boss told the BBC.

“I know from my own personal experience of getting the Welsh job early in my career – it was my first job and I was still playing – they weren’t ideal circumstances if I’m honest looking back.

“But as a very young manager finding my way, finding my own beliefs in terms of how I wanted my teams to play, all that was a learning experience for myself and I found it invaluable.”

Wales failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup, finishing third in UEFA’s Group D, before Coleman departed ahead of his impending appointment at Sunderland.