Van Gaal was sacked after poor campaign and replaced by Jose Mourinho

Ryan Giggs looks set to end his 29 –year association with Manchester United by turning down a new role under Jose Mourinho.

The 42–year-old Reds legend was assistant manager to the sacked Louis van Gaal.

However, the club are understood to have offered the former Welsh international a lesser role under new boss Mourinho, and Giggs is now set to make the emotional decision to cut ties and seek a managerial position elsewhere.

Ryan Giggs is set to leave Manchester United this summer in search of his first solo managerial role

The Welshman was assistant boss to Louis van Gaal (left) last season before he was sacked

Jose Mourinho, pictured alongside United vice executive chairman Ed Woodward (left), replaced Van Gaal

GIGGS AT MANCHESTER UNITED Debut: March 2, 1991 vs Everton Appearances: 963 Goals: 168 Honours: Premier League x 13 Champions League x 2 FA Cup x 4 League Cup x 3 Community Shield x 9 UEFA Super Cup x 1 Intercontinental Cup x 1 FIFA Club World Cup x 1 Advertisement

Mourinho is expected to appoint his long-standing assistant Rui Faria as his No 2.

United have declined to comment on the title of the job offered to Giggs, who made 963 appearances for the club, but anything other than assistant manager would effectively be a step down.

It is understood that the post is aimed at connecting the Under 21s with the first-team.

No decision was reached on Wednesday about the matter.

Sportsmail understands United retain hope that Giggs will remain at the club and want him to stay but do not want to place him under any pressure to do so and that the feeling at Carrington is that the decision has to be his.

Giggs has returned from a break in Dubai, where he has mulled over his options in the desert sunshine.

Leaving the club he has represented for the majority of his life is a huge wrench and while the opportunity to work with Mourinho would further bolster Giggs' CV he is thought to feel that he is now ready to make his managerial bow.

There is also an element of a gentleman's understanding, that would have seen the former winger take over from Van Gaal, being reneged upon.

Giggs, who made his first-team debut for United as a teenager, rejected a new role under Mourinho

Giggs enjoyed an illustrious playing career at Old Trafford, winning a staggering 34 trophies before retiring

Giggs is understood to be dissatisfied with the new role offered to him between the Under 21s and first-team

One source close to Giggs said they would be 'very, very surprised' to see him stay at Old Trafford given the sequence of events.

If Giggs is to make the big move, there are currently a host of hotseat vacancies in the nearby area for the Salford-based coach.

Westward on the M62, Everton remain searching for a replacement for Roberto Martinez while in the Championship Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United are on the lookout, although the prospect of Giggs taking over at Elland Road is unlikely at best.

Down in League One, Oldham Athletic, supported by Giggs' fellow Class of '92 member Paul Scholes, are also managerless but a move to Boundary Park would again be a surprise.