Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expects Ryan Giggs to become a 'great manager' in the future.

The 41-year-old took interim charge of the club for four games two seasons ago and is currently assistant manager to Louis van Gaal at the Premier League side.

However, Ferguson has revealed that had the Welshman retired a few years earlier, he would have had his as his assistant alongside Mike Phelan.

Ferguson wrote in his new book Leading: "Ryan Giggs is eventually going to be a great manager.

"He has intelligence, presence and knowledge - but there was no chance that I would have ever asked him, or any other player, to consider being my successor while he was still fortunate enough to be playing.

"There is every chance that he would have been my assistant in my final five years at Manchester United, alongside Mike Phelan."

Giggs won 27 trophies in a 24-year playing career with Manchester United before retiring in 2014.