Ryan Giggs has opened up on meeting Louis van Gaal for the first time - and revealed the former Manchester United boss immediately punched him in the stomach.
Back in 2014, the Red Devils decided to hire Van Gaal as a replacement for David Moyes.
Moyes had overseen a nightmare campaign at United that resulted in him being axed just 10 months into a six-year contract.
Giggs took charge of United for the final four games of the 2013/14 season, with Van Gaal then taking the job permanently after the World Cup in Brazil.
Ryan Giggs has opened up on meeting Louis van Gaal for the first time - and revealed the former Manchester United boss immediately punched him in the stomach
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The duo would work together for two years, with Van Gaal losing his job in 2016.
Giggs, speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, has now opened up on meeting the Dutchman for the first time.
And the United legend revealed that Van Gaal immediately punched him in his stomach, while also praising Giggs for being in shape.
"We met him in a hotel room. Louis was mad. He was mad," he said.
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"So... he’s opened the door, I’m with Ed Woodward [then United executive vice-chairman), and Louis looked at me and punched me right in the stomach.
"He’s gone, 'You are in good shape.' and just punching- a little dig. I’m thinking, 'What is he doing?'"
Van Gaal then stunned Giggs by asking him to create a list of players that should stay or go.
The former Wales manager added: "I've just gone tick, tick... I think we were one out.
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When Ryan Giggs met Louis Van Gaal
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"So instantly, he was like, 'Yeah, I agree with that. Same thinking, same thinking'."
When Van Gaal's future was up in the air, United considered naming Giggs as his permanent replacement.
In the end, however, the fallen giants decided to go with Jose Mourinho instead.
Giggs, having stayed at United to be Van Gaal's No 2, opted to leave his beloved club in order to become a manager himself.
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The 51-year-old was appointed as Wales manager in January 2018.
He won 12 of his 25 matches in the job before departing in November 2020, with Rob Page installed as his replacement.
As for Van Gaal, the 73-year-old currently works as an advisor at Ajax - the club he made his name at.]
After leaving United in 2016, many thought he was done with management.
Ryan Giggs enjoyed working with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United
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But Van Gaal was named as Netherlands boss for a third time in August 2021 and took charge of the team at the Qatar World Cup the following year.
The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals of the tournament before losing to Argentine on penalties.
