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It seems like longer than the seventeen months it has actually been since Wales, led by Chris Coleman, made their way to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

With Gareth Bale in the side, it genuinely felt like they had a chance against any opposition – which is why it was so much of a shock when they finished third in their World Cup qualifying group, missing out on even the play-offs, where their vanquishers the Republic of Ireland lost abysmally to Denmark.

 

If that was a shock, then it was merely a tremor compared to Coleman’s decision in the near aftermath of the campaign to leave the Wales job and take over at Sunderland. With Coleman’s managerial talents seemingly insufficient to save the North-East club from a second successive relegation, that’s a move that has left no-one particularly happy.

 

Sunderland are still doomed, Stratabet give live insights weekly indicating that they will lose to more cheaply-assembled sides, and the Football Association of Wales have been left struggling to replace the manager who took them to eighth in the world rankings.

 

To replace Coleman, the FAW has appointed Ryan Giggs on a four-year contract. That’s a long deal for a man who has never had full-time control of a team at club level, and whose most recent involvement in football has been as a part-owner of Salford City. The question must be asked: in making this decision, are they guilty of going for name recognition over actual ability to do the job?

 

YES: His entire managerial career so far has been four games long

 

Under David Moyes’ management at Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs was a player-coach, with the feeling that he would be groomed, in time, to take over as the manager at the club. This happened sooner than expected, with Moyes sacked after ten months in the job and Giggs asked to step in as caretaker manager for the remaining four games. The United side under Giggs didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory – a 4-0 trouncing of Norwich was followed by a loss to perpetual crisis club (yes, even then) Sunderland.

 

None of this is to say that Giggs won’t be a good manager – but it’s an almighty gamble by the FAW; they’re currently blessed with the likes of Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Bale and could make an impact on international tournaments. Is Giggs the man to chart that path?

 

NO: International managers are more figureheads than tacticians

 

On the other hand, novice managers are not that uncommon at international level in football. Marco van Basten took Holland to the semis of Euro 2000 having “only” coached Ajax’s youth team, while Rudi Voller took Germany to the following World Cup final having extremely limited experience.

 

On the other hand, there have been Gheorge Hagi and Diego Maradona – sumptuously gifted footballers, each their nation’s greatest player ever. In neither case did this talent make them an effective manager. Those who can do cannot necessarily teach.

 

Will Ryan Giggs be more Voller or Hagi? Time will tell.