Former Manchester United youth team manager Eric Harrison has no doubt Ryan Giggs will be a success in his new coaching role at Old Trafford.
Giggs has been appointed to David Moyes’ backroom team along with another member of the famed ‘Class of 92’ which Harrison was responsible for bringing through the ranks, Phil Neville.
Although Giggs will be eased in gradually, having entered his 24th top-flight campaign as a United player, it is clear that is the direction he is heading, with some already speculating he will end up as Red Devils boss at some stage in the future.
Speaking at the annual McDonald’s Community Awards, Harrison said: “Without doubt Ryan will be a success.
“He is a football nut. I am glad he is doing what he is doing.
“It would have been a tragedy if he had said ‘right, I am going to play golf every day’. He gets bored after five minutes if it is not football.”
Nevertheless, as coaches Giggs and Neville have to prove themselves in a manner they did such a long time ago as players.
And the major difference is, they are not entirely in charge of their own destiny given results are determined by the performances of others.
Given those results during pre-season have not entirely gone to plan, Harrison has resolved to have a chat with the pair, plus reserve team coach Nicky Butt, later this week, to ensure they have the confidence required heading into a new campaign so full of uncertainty following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson.
“It’s not often but occasionally I will sit down and have a word with them,” said Harrison.
“I am going to do with Phil for instance because he might be a little bit nervous.
“Whether you are a player or a coach you need confidence and you could understand it if he was a little bit daunted.”
Given his background, it is hardly a surprise Harrison’s skills are in demand.
In his work for McDonalds, the 75-year-old tries to improve coaching at the grassroots of the game, with children a particular priority given the manner in which he revolutionised the youth system at Old Trafford.
“The manager is obviously the most important person at any football club but without good coaches they would be absolutely nothing,” said Harrison.
“And I might be biased but one of the most important coaches at any club is the youth coach.
“They are just as important as the players because they are responsible for bringing the next generation through.”
Evidently, that was Harrison’s forte, having decided something had to be done to improve the standard of coaching from his own playing days.
“I started at Halifax Town and then went across the lower leagues,” he said.
“In all my career; 550 games over 17 years, not one coach or manager took me to one side and said they would work with me to improve certain aspects of my game.
“I was scared to say anything but I didn’t think it was right.
“I resolved that if I ever got a job coaching, I would make sure the players got coached properly.
“I hope that attitude has rubbed off on the United lads and is why they want to go from being top-class players to hopefully being top-class coaches.”