Premiership: Giggs backs foreigner to succeed Fergie

Ryan Giggs has backed the idea of a foreign coach taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Ferguson is aiming to bring down the curtain on his trophy-ladened tenure at Old Trafford by recapturing the coveted Champions League crown in his home city of Glasgow at the end of the forthcoming campaign.

By then, the United board will have chosen the man who will replace the Scot.

With Steve McClaren having departed for Middlesbrough, Irish duo Martin O'Neill and David O'Leary seem the only remaining candidates from the job among what would be regarded as 'home' countries.

And, with French duo Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier creating positive impressions at Arsenal and Liverpool respectively over the last few years, Giggs - can see no reason why the triple Premiership champions should not follow the same route.

"I wouldn't be against the appointment of United's first ever foreign manager," he said.

"It was only a few years ago that foreign managers were a rarity in the Premiership, but Arsenal and Liverpool have certainly benefited from using them.

"The new manager would have to have a good knowledge of the European game because so much of our football is geared towards the Champions League now.

"The debate will rage on for the whole of this coming season until an appointment is made. It is such an important decision and a large field of names has already been mentioned.

"Football changes so quickly, and some of the names being put forward might have terrible seasons with their teams next season and suddenly not look a good choice."