Ryan Giggs has opened up on how Louis van Gaal helped him develop as a manager during the Dutchman's stint in charge at Old Trafford from 2014 to 2016.
Van Gaal helped United left the FA Cup in that time, adding to his host of club honours during his spells in charge at Ajax, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.
And Giggs, who is now managing his native Wales, told the UTD Podcast that van Gaal had a significant impact on his managerial career.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (centre) and assistant manager Ryan Giggs share a joke with coaching staff during a training session at the Aon Training Complex, Manchester."[I've experienced a] different approach, different people, different personalities. Obviously I had different international managers, but that's only obviously a short space of time.
That's why I talk about Louis [van Gaal], regarding my coaching, because I was actually in his meetings for two years, [taking] responsibility, and I talk so fondly of him because that was really my first coaching role.
Giggs also spoke about how LVG helped him learn more about systems and the tactical side of the game.
"Whereas when you're playing, you don't know the preparation. You don't know what the manager's seen on the videos. Players get seven or eight minutes of watching the opposition, but the coaching staff watch hours and hours.
"So that is completely different, it's completely different, even though you've worked under a manager for so long.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (right) and assistant Ryan Giggs during the Barclays Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.It was more sort of the man-management and the different things that Sir Alex Ferguson would do that I've picked up on, whereas with Louis obviously I've seen first-hand different systems, why you play the different systems, the reasons for this and the reasons for that. It was a really good experience.
Giggs also said his short time as temporary player-manager at Old Trafford after the departure of David Moyes helped him decide he had a future in management.
"It was an amazing experience, amazing, and one, really, that made my mind up that I wanted to become a manager. I would say up until then that I was still unsure.
"But I just felt comfortable. I felt comfortable with the decision-making. I felt comfortable in that position. It was a brilliant experience.
"I was still doing my pro licence, but actually being in the job, having to make the decisions, all the pressure that you put yourself under, you can't prepare yourself for that."
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