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As reported by Reuters and other outlets, Wales have appointed former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs as their new national team manager.
Giggs has been without a job in football since leaving his role as assistant to Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford 18 months ago, but has now been appointed on a 4 year deal, succeeding Chris Coleman who left to take over as Sunderland manager in November after failing to lead his country to World Cup qualification.
As a player, Giggs, who was born in Cardiff, played 64 times for his country between 1991 and 2007, but had a reputation for missing a number of international games, especially friendlies, which did not always endear him to the Welsh fans.
Now, however, he has been entrusted with the role of rebuilding the Welsh team, with their first target qualification for the 2020 European Championship., with the 44-year old saying “I can’t wait to start working with the players as we prepare for those crucial games later in the year”.
His first match in charge will take place on March 22nd when Wales play China in Nanning.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.