Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Ryan Giggs’s decision to leave Manchester United, saying it is time for the Welshman to stand on “his own feet” and accept the challenge of being a manager elsewhere.

Giggs was at United for 29 years until he departed on Saturday, after the 42-year-old was passed over for the role of assistant to José Mourinho.

Giggs stated he wanted to pursue management elsewhere and Ferguson, who gave him his United debut in 1991, told BBC Sport: “It is time Ryan stood on his own feet, got out there and accepted the challenge. I talk about his poker face. He has a bit of steel about him.

“It is such a highly intense results industry, you need people who go into it to have a bit of steel about them, a bit of character and personality.”

Mourinho appointed Rui Faria, his long-term assistant, as his No2, the position Giggs held under Mourinho’s predecessor, Louis van Gaal. “You have got to have, in your assistant, someone you have trusted all your life,” Ferguson said. “When I came to United [in November 1986], I brought Archie Knox because he was a valuable person for me. I trusted him 100%. José Mourinho has had his assistant for years and, quite rightly, has stuck by his own man. If José hadn’t had an assistant, I know he would have taken Ryan.

“I think Ryan is ready to manage and he has a lot of quality. He doesn’t want to spoil that quality by going to a club where it is sacking a manager every two minutes.”