Report: Ryan Giggs set to be unveiled as Wales manager
Ryan Giggs is set to be introduced as the new manager of Wales in a press conference on Monday, according to BBC Sport.
It's understood the Manchester United legend beat Craig Bellamy, Osian Roberts, and Mark Bowen to the role.
Wales Online's Paul Abbandonato reported Bellamy was Giggs' biggest competition following "a Hollywood interview" which featured a Powerpoint presentation detailing his vision for the national team's future. The retired forward was also believed to have won the support of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
However, the Football Association of Wales chief executive, Jonathan Ford, is expected to finalise the paperwork for Giggs' appointment on Monday morning before he's unveiled as Chris Coleman's successor at 2 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). He will inherit a team that missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup, prompting Coleman's decision to leave and take over Sunderland in November.
Although Giggs is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to hail from Wales, he could've won more than 64 caps if he didn't regularly withdraw from squads, especially those selected for friendly matches. His prioritising of club football seemed to pay off, though, with the ex-winger collecting 13 Premier League titles, three FA Cup winners medals, three League Cups, and two Champions League triumphs with Manchester United.
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His transition into coaching hasn't been as straight-forward. Giggs has been overlooked for numerous vacancies in the past, including when Bob Bradley was preferred for the Swansea City post in October 2016. His experience prior to that setback was as assistant to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, and he served as caretaker boss for four matches following the former's sacking. He was relieved of his duties at United when Jose Mourinho took over as manager in the summer of 2016 and has been out of work since.
"I just think on balance, there's too many foreigners at the moment and British coaches probably just don't get the chances," he complained in February of last year.
Bellamy is currently academy coach at Cardiff City, while Roberts was Coleman's No. 2 for the national side after working in various positions in the Wales set-up. Bowen is a long-time assistant of Mark Hughes, the former Wales manager who was axed as Stoke City handler last week, and Tony Pulis was also linked to the job until he effectively pulled out of the running in December when he was appointed as Middlesbrough manager.