MANAGER PROFILE RYAN GIGGS WALES

The most decorated player in English football history, Ryan Giggs played at Manchester United for his entire professional career and won 35 major trophies:

13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions League titles and one FIFA Club World Cup.

He also represented Wales on 64 occasions and captained the Great Britain football team at the 2012 Olympics.

His first move into coaching came at the tail end of his playing career at Manchester United, when he was appointed as a player–coach in July 2013.

Towards the end of his first season in the role, Giggs took charge of the first team as interim manager following the departure of David Moyes.

He oversaw two wins, a draw and a defeat in his four games at the helm, and he was credited with the promotion of youth players to the first team.

He was subsequently appointed as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal, spending two seasons in the role before leaving Old Trafford.

He was appointed manager of Wales in 2018 and got off to a dream start with the national team, recording a 6-0 away win over China.

He subsequently led Wales to qualification for the European Championship finals.

 SESSION QUICK TRANSITIONS

For the team in possession, this session is all about keeping the ball by making the pitch big and reacting quickly to the loss of possession.

For the team out of possession, it’s about making the pitch small and working together to win the ball and then trying to score.

To make it really engaging for the players, I’ve made it a competitive game and I like to keep score so players know who’s winning and who’s losing.

As a session it also encompasses so many other elements needed for match day, such as keeping the ball by passing, dribbling and working together, and it works on reactions and good finishing.

It is also great for the goalkeepers, who have to react quickly and use their feet.

I try to run this session at every Wales training camp because there are so many things in the practice that I want to see players doing in the games.

After the transition activity, I would finish the session with an 11v11 game or a small-sided game.

“To make it really engaging for the players, I’ve made it a competitive game and I like to keep score”.