Ryan Giggs is being linked with the vacant Wigan Athletic job after the Championship side sacked manager Gary Caldwell on Tuesday, just five months after leading the Latics to the League One title and promotion.

The former United midfielder-turned coach is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to take the roll after he left the Premier League club in the summer following Jose Mourinho’s appointment. While Giggs does not offer much in terms of managerial experience – he took charge of four matches following David Moyes’s dismissal in 2014 – he did serve as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford during his two-year reign.

Caldwell’s dismissal on Tuesday came after Wigan lost 1-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion that left them with just one victory this season and down in 23rd place in the Championship table.

According to ESPN, Giggs has emerged as one of Wigan’s prime targets, and with the former Premier League footballer eager to move into management, the 42-year-old could be persuaded to take on the role at the DW Stadium.

It’s reported that Giggs is determined to secure a role in management, and his failure to land the Swansea job earlier this month – after failing to impress in an interview with the Welsh club – looks set to lead Giggs towards the second tier of football for his first permanent managerial role.

The one problem is that Giggs is unlikely to want to try and cut his teeth in a relegation battle, with the Latics currently three points from safety facing a fight with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers for survival.

Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Show all 24 1 /24 Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs has been appointed the interim manager of Manchester United following their decision to sack Davids Moyes. Here, we look at the midfielder's legendary United career. Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Born Ryan Joseph Wilson in Cardiff, Ryan Giggs (who adopted his mother's maiden name) signs as a trainee with Manchester United in July 1990 and then as a professional at the start of December. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs made his United debut aged 17 in 1991 as a substitute against Everton. Two months later the Welshman made his full debut, against Manchester City at Old Trafford. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs He became the youngest footballer to represent Wales when he played against Germany in Nuremberg aged 17 years and 322 days. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs won back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 1992 and 1993, the first player to lift the trophy twice. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs was a member of United side which ended the club's 26-year wait to win the league title when they were crowned champions in 1993. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs helped United win the Premier League and FA Cup double for the first time in the club's history in 1994. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs In 1997 Giggs won a third league title in four years and in October scored a memorable goal in their 3-2 Champions League victory over Juventus at Old Trafford. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs In 1999 he scored a stunning winner in United's epic FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Arsenal at Villa Park. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs That year United went on to complete an historic treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs 2001 saw Giggs collect his seventh league championship and 12th major honour in total. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs In 2002 Giggs described United's Champions League semi-final defeat by Bayer Leverkusen as the "low point" of his career. United finished third in the Premier League that year. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs In August 2002 Giggs scored his 100th goal for United in all competitions with the team's second goal in a league game at Chelsea. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs United finished third in the table in 2004 but Giggs lined up in the 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs 2005 saw Giggs win his ninth Premier League title with Manchester United. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs The same year he announced his retirement from international football, after making a total of 64 caps. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs broke Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record after coming on as a substitute - and scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out - as Manchester United beat Chelsea in the Champions League final last season. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs, who signed a new deal with United, committing him to the club until June 2010, was voted Professional Footballers' Association player of the year for last season GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs sings along with his team-mates after winning the 2010 League Cup GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Paul Scholes sits alongside Giggs as they celebrate the 2010-11 Premier League title success - the Welshman's twelfth of his career. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs was given the task of captaining Team GB in the London 2012 Olympics, where they went out of the football competition at the quarter-final stage after losing to South Korea in a penalty shootout. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Giggs claimed both his and Sir Alex Ferguson's 13th league title last season, when the famous manager announced he would be retiring from the game. Giggs however, agreed a deal to carry on playing for the Red Devils as well as join new manager David Moyes' coaching staff. GETTY IMAGES Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Having joined David Moyes' backroom staff for 2013/14 as a player-coach, Giggs saw his first-team chances severely limited. However, following the dismissal of Moyes, the 40-year-old midfielder was appointed as interim manager until a permanent appointment can be made. Getty Images Ryan Giggs' Manchester United career in pictures Ryan Giggs Louis van Gaal appointed Giggs his assistant after taking the job in summer 2014. Getty Images