Ryan Giggs was ‘punched’ during first meeting with ‘mad’ Louis van Gaal, explains how he was different to other Man Utd managers

Add as preferred source on Google

Ryan Giggs has reflected on how his first encounter with Louis van Gaal left him feeling that the former Manchester United manager was ‘mad’.

After spending 23 years as a one-club man for Manchester United, Ryan Giggs won everything as a player as he became one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most trusted lieutenants.

The 51-year-old was part of the Treble-winning side in 1999 and won 13 Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, as well as a second Champions League triumph in 2008 when United completed the double.

Giggs also served United as both player-coach and interim manager before becoming the Wales manager in 2018.

After spending most of his career playing under Sir Alex Ferguson and working alongside Louis van Gaal, Giggs can take many influences into his later career.

Louis van Gaal ‘punched’ Ryan Giggs during first encounter

United legend Ryan Giggs has recalled his first meeting with Louis van Gaal, which led to him becoming assistant manager in 2014.

Giggs took temporary charge of the team at the end of the 2013/14 season as player-coach following David Moyes’ sacking.

The Welshman did enough to impress Van Gaal during their first meeting and he was named assistant manager that summer.

However, Giggs had to take a punch for his troubles.

The most decorated player in English football appeared on the latest episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast and revealed that Van Gaal was ‘mad’ in his approach.

“I felt out to Holland to meet Louis,” Giggs told Rio Ferdinand. “So we met him in a hotel room.

“Louis was mad. He was mad.

“So I’ve opened the – he’s opened the door, I’m with Ed Woodward, and Louis looked at me and punched me right in the stomach. He’s gone, ‘You are in good shape,’ and just punching – a little dig.

“I’m thinking, ‘what is he doing?’ And he said, ‘I have a list of names. I want you to tell me who stays and who goes.’ So anyway, we went through the squad.”

Giggs went on to joke that he told Van Gaal to release Ferdinand, before adding: “I’ve just gone tick, tick… I think we were one out. So instantly, he was like, ‘Yeah, I agree with that. Same thinking, same thinking.’ And he said, ‘You know, I want you to be my assistant and you will help me.’”

Sadly, it didn’t work out for Van Gaal at United, although he did win the FA Cup in 2016 before being replaced by Jose Mourinho.

The Dutchman still managed to leave an everlasting impression on Giggs.

Ryan Giggs hails Louis van Gaal

Although Giggs admits he thought Van Gaal was ‘mad’ during the time they spent together at Old Trafford, he doesn’t shy away from the fact he learned a lot from working with the respected Dutch coach.

“Louis was really good for me because he was, like, a different way of how I’d worked before,” Giggs said.

“Obviously different than Sir Alex. It’s different than David Moyes. And he was very much a teacher.

“Very much, you know, obviously Dutch thinking, everything is logical. But I learned a lot, and I’ve taken a lot into the way that I managed from Louis. And he was really good with me.”

It remains to be seen if Giggs will ever return to the dugout after formally resigning from the Wales job in 2022.