Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for the Red Devils, had one more year on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho is expected to give that role to Rui Faria.

The Old Trafford club had hoped Giggs could be persuaded to stay on in a different role but the 42-year-old Welshman has decided to move on.

A club statement read: “Ryan Giggs is to leave Manchester United, the club he has been with since the age of 14, to pursue his desire to be a manager.”

17: Giggs’ age when he made his first-team debut on March 2, 1991, a 2-0 home loss for United against Everton.

40: His age when he retired from playing in May 2014.

963: The number of appearances Giggs made for United in all competitions, a club record.

168: The total number of goals the Welshman scored for the Red Devils.

13: The number of times Giggs netted in the Premier League in 1993-94, his highest-scoring season, when he scored 17 in all competitions.

One: Giggs only failed to score an English top-flight goal for United in one season during his playing career – 2013-14, his last.

Zero: Giggs was never sent off for United.

Four: The number of games he took charge of United for towards the end of the 2013-14 season following David Moyes’ sacking as boss. Giggs oversaw a 4-0 win against Norwich, a 1-0 loss to Sunderland, a 3-1 victory over Hull – all at Old Trafford – and a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

34: Giggs’ trophy haul as a United player – 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, nine Community Shields, two Champions Leagues, one World Club Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one UEFA Super Cup. He is the most decorated player in English history.

One: The number of trophies United have won since he hung up his boots – the 2015-16 FA Cup, for which he was assistant to boss Louis van Gaal.

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