Ryan Giggs says Jesse Lingard was a “nightmare” to coach as a kid – because he “did everything right”.
Giggs retired from playing in 2014, bringing to an end an illustrious career __with Manchester United, where he took his first steps into coaching.
It was the same year Lingard made his professional debut for the Red Devils, and the 23-year-old has been a key fixture of the first team since.
But Giggs admits that he found Lingard a “nightmare” to coach when he was taking his coaching badges, at which point the winger was just 10 years old.
“Lingard has progressed, he’s not one of the 18-19 year olds that set the world on fire,” he told ITV Sport. “He’s taken a bit time and has gone out on loan to three or four clubs.
“He’s trying to sort out what type of player he is because he can play a number of positions. He’s a player who gives energy, scores goals and is a real team player but now at 23, he’s got to kick on.’
“I coached him when he was 10, and my subject for my A license was coaching a number 10. It was a nightmare because he did everything right. I had nothing to work with. He was an intelligent player, even then.”