Manchester United set to announce Ryan Giggs' exit following Louis van Gaal's sacking

The club legend will follow the Dutchman out the door after a 29-year association with the Red Devils as Jose Mourinho waits to take over

Life of Ryan: Giggs is set to leave Manchester United after 29 years

Manchester United are expected to announce Ryan Giggs has followed Louis van Gaal in leaving the club.

With Van Gaal and his Dutch staff having been dismissed this morning, Giggs is said to feel he has no option o follow them out of the Old Trafford door.

United had planned for Giggs to take over from Van Gaal when the 64-year-old's contract expired next summer, but the decision to release him a year early has changed that thinking.

Jose Mourinho's imminent appointment is understood to have convinced Giggs he must leave United and manage elsewhere to give himself the best possible chance of one day landing the Old Trafford job himself.

FULL STORY: Van Gaal sacked by Manchester United

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Giggs is United's record appearance holder, having played for the club 963 times, scoring 168 goals, and is also their most decorated player, whose honours include 13 Premier League triumphs.

The 42-year old was made United assistant boss when Van Gaal took charge in July 2014, having served as a player-coach under David Moyes during his ill-fated 10-month spell in charge.

LIVE: Reaction after Van Gaal is sacked by Manchester United 

Giggs took temporary charge of United for four games at the end of the 2013-14 after Moyes was sacked, the experience confirming his desire to take the job on a permanent basis. But the decision to jettison Van Gaal early and bring in Mourinho has forced Giggs into a rethink about his own position, with sources indicating his departure from United will soon be confirmed.