Manchester United: Louis van Gaal expects Ryan Giggs to become the next manager of the club

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has touted Ryan Giggs to be the next Manchester United manager once he leaves the club.

The Welshman was appointed interim manager of the club following the sacking of David Moyes last season and he managed United for the final four games of the campaign.

Giggs, who has made a record 963 appearances for the club in his 23 years as a player, described it as the proudest moment of his career to be appointed the manager of United.

The former Welsh international, who is the only player to play in the Premier League for 22 consecutive years, has now taken the assistant manager's role under Van Gaal and gone to impress the Dutchman with the work he is doing with the players.

The former Bayern Munich manager has now proclaimed Giggs to be his successor when he leaves Old Trafford. The Dutch manager, who is just reaching the end of his first season in-charge has a contract with the 20-times English Champions until the summer of 2017.

"I expect that he will be the next manager after I am gone," Van Gaal said, as quoted by the BBC.

"Now I have the responsibility. He has tasks that he has to perform like the players [do]. What he has to do, for me, he does it very well," the former Netherlands national team manager added.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has backed defender Luke Shaw to live up to his potential at United after a difficult first season at the club.

"I believe in Luke Shaw so, for me, it isn't a surprise. He played very well against Chelsea and I'm very happy for him," the Dutch manager told United's official site.

"It is of course the first season of a 19-year-old boy because he is still a boy and he is growing. Maybe, next year, he is an adult on the pitch and I hope so. I believe in Shaw," the Red Devils manager added.