**Ryan Giggs Reveals Forthright Pledge that Defined His Tenure as Wales Manager**
Ryan Giggs, the legendary former Manchester United player, has spoken candidly about the circumstances that surrounded his appointment as Wales national team manager, highlighting a powerful 16-word declaration he delivered during his job interview. Now aged 51, Giggs’ insight into the state of Welsh football at the time sheds new light on his efforts to overhaul its culture and infrastructure.
Taking over in 2018 from Chris Coleman—who notably guided Wales to a historic semi-final finish at Euro 2016—Giggs faced great expectations. Although the national mood had soured a little following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Giggs was determined to focus on transforming the squad’s off-field culture as much as its on-field fortunes.
Discussing the early days of his managerial stint with his former teammate Rio Ferdinand on the *Rio Ferdinand Presents* programme, Giggs recounted a moment that encapsulated his commitment to change. “When I leave Wales… I will leave you in a better state than you are now,” he told the interview panel, making his intentions unequivocally clear. This pledge, he says, stemmed from his own frustrations as a player, where he described the national setup as “a shambles”.
“It was in Birmingham,” Giggs remembered regarding the interview. “I turned up a little bit early… only about 15 minutes before, and bumped into somebody else who was there to be interviewed. I just thought, ‘This is what Wales was for me as a player—disorganised.’” He went on to list failures in organisation, travel, facilities, and even the food. The disarray, he claimed, was impossible to ignore.
Determined to address these shortcomings, Giggs made cultural change central to his pitch. Although Chris Coleman’s era had been Wales’ most successful in recent history, Giggs argued that forging a sustainable and professional structure was just as vital as chasing immediate results on the pitch. “I might not be successful myself,” he told the panel, “but I will leave you in a better state than you are now.”
Ferdinand questioned Giggs about his goals; was he referring to results, or the overall setup? “Everything,” Giggs replied. Emphasising a holistic approach, he pledged to introduce talented youngsters to the squad, recognising that stalwarts like Chris Gunter, Ashley Williams, and Sam Vokes were approaching the end of their international careers.
“My vision was to bring youth through quickly—fast-tracking those with promise,” he explained. Giggs cited names such as Daniel James, David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Connor Roberts, and Joe Rodon—players who would subsequently become important components of the Welsh team. He admitted that phasing out established veterans was “not a nice job”, but one he believed necessary for progress.
During his two-and-a-half years in charge, Giggs abided by his promise, handing debuts to 16 players—10 of them in 2018 alone. This influx of young talent has since become the backbone of the national side, with figures like Ethan Ampadu, Neco Williams, and Chris Mepham all thriving at senior international level. Brennan Johnson, who would go on to stardom, also received his first call-up under Giggs, though Giggs never managed him due to later events.
In November 2020, Giggs’ tenure was abruptly cut short when he was arrested on assault charges—allegations he has consistently denied. He was immediately suspended, with his assistant Rob Page stepping in as interim boss before being appointed permanently in 2022. The subsequent legal proceedings ended in 2022 without a conviction, as the trial collapsed due to a hung jury, and charges were eventually dropped ahead of a scheduled retrial.
For all the turbulence, it is clear that Giggs’ time with Wales left a lasting imprint on the structure and outlook of the national team. His emphasis on youth, professionalism, and culture has provided the foundation for Wales to build upon in the years since. The full interview, in which Giggs reflects further on his football journey, is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.