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London - Manchester United announced on Thursday that long-serving midfielder Ryan Giggs is to take on a player-coach role with the English Premier League champions next season.
Giggs, who signed a one-year contract extension last season, has been studying for his coaching badges and the 39-year-old is due to acquire the top-level UEFA Pro Licence next year.
"It's a great privilege to be appointed a player-coach. I hope I will be able to bring my experience to bear, having been both a player and part of the Manchester United family for so long," said Giggs, who will work alongside new United manager David Moyes.
"It's no secret that I have been taking my qualifications and I see this as the first step in my future career. I'm really looking forward to working alongside David and the team."
Moyes, who recently succeeded Alex Ferguson as manager, said Giggs' long career gave him the perfect platform to step into coaching.
"I'm delighted that Ryan has accepted the chance to become player-coach," said the Scot.
"His success and ability to adapt his game over a number of years gives him an unrivalled perspective on the modern game. His career is an example to any aspiring young player and I'm sure that both he and the players will benefit from his new role."
United are expected to announce that former player Phil Neville, who played under Moyes at Everton, will also join the back-room staff at Old Trafford.
The club have already confirmed that coaches Steve Round, Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden have followed Moyes to Manchester from Goodison Park.
Moyes is due to face the media for the first time as United manager alongside captain Nemanja Vidic at a press conference on Friday.
Factfile on Ryan Giggs, who was on Thursday appointed as a player-coach at Manchester United:
Name: Ryan Joseph Giggs (born Ryan Joseph Wilson)
Age: 39
Date of birth: November 29, 1973
Place of birth: Cardiff, Wales
Position: Left-winger/central midfielder
Club: Manchester United (1990-date)
Appearances: 941
Goals: 168
Debut: March 2, 1991 (v Everton, Manchester)
National team: Wales (1991-2007)
Appearances: 64
Goals: 12
Debut: October 16, 1991 (v Germany, Nuremberg)
Last appearance: June 2, 2007 (v Czech Republic, Cardiff)
Olympic team: Great Britain (2012)
Appearances: 4
Goals: 1
Honours
Club
Premier League (13): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13
FA Cup (4): 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
League Cup (3): 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09
Community Shield (8): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010
UEFA Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08
UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2008
Individual
PFA Young Player of the Year: 1991-92, 1992-93
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2008-09
BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2009
Other
OBE (Order of the British Empire, for services to football): 2007
