The Reds' 36-year-old landed the top BBC honour on Sunday night and is set for another contract that will keep him playing until 2011 at least.
Former United youth team boss Eric Harrison helped nurture Giggs as a 17-year-old and was later his international mentor as Mark Hughes' Wales's sidekick.
And Harrison hails the brilliant winger as the perfect antidote to the modern day view of footballers.
"Ryan is a perfect role model. In my opinion he is the greatest ever player to play in the Premier League era," said Eric.
"Players these days don't have the best of images so they have to try to be squeaky clean.
"For United to have a player like Ryan, who has been a great example for 20 years at the top, is something you cannot afford to lose.
"He is a great voice in the dressing room and a great illustration of how to conduct yourself to the kids who'll face all the dangers and pitfalls of being at a huge club like United.
"Ryan is held in such high regard that everyone listens to him. I know when he was with the Welsh squad he was always there with a word or two for players, putting his arm around them with a gee-up or advice. He was great to have because you just cannot ignore that help from a player of his status.
"I know he is keen to stay in the game and I don't wish to tell anyone at Old Trafford their business, but I am 99 per cent certain he will be offered a coaching role at United. He's absolutely perfect.
"I hope his first job will be at United and long may he stay.
"But somewhere along that line could be the manager of Wales job. I have a sneaking feeling about that.
"Mark Hughes went into that role as his first managerial appointment. He says he wouldn't have done it any other way because you learn so much at international level. It was a great base. Giggsy could do the same."
Giggs, for the meantime, intends to play on for as long as possible.
"I'm hungrier for the game than I've ever been. I was sat there taking everything in during the ceremony and still thinking about the game the night before. It still hurts that we got beaten.
"If defeats are still hurting you then it shows you have still got that desire to carry on, and that's certainly the case at the moment.
"I'm probably playing the best I have ever played at the moment and enjoying it more than ever before.
"As long as I'm enjoying it and getting picked and the desire is still there I'll carry on."
Giggs said he would not contemplate having a swansong at a different club and does not foresee any problems with the contract negotiations.
"It's nice to be wanted and they know I don't want to go anywhere else, I want to end my career at United."
Meanwhile, Giggs fans' final- lap surge to overtake Formula One World Champion Jenson Button for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award helped cost bookie Fred Done a whopping £60,000.
Giggs had been a 40-1 outsider up to a month ago but a late rush of votes from Wales and the Greater Manchester area forced his price down to 3-1.
However, it was too late to stop the bulk of the damage hitting Fred.
But United fan Done was not unhappy to shell out on Giggs, saying: "Ryan has been a great credit to the Premier League, the club and his family.
"I have nothing but admiration for the way he has ignited Old Trafford over the years. He is a neighbour of mine so I couldn't be more pleased." Tweet
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He should remain at United, Wales are just never going to be good enough !JMO ok
Hush this talk of what Giggsy will do after he retires - I am hoping he has at least 2 seasons left in him at the top level. No doubt, United will offer him a coaching job when he eventually hangs up his boots.
hopefully he will stay at the club as a coach as Giggs belongs at our great club.
but i for one hopes he plays a few more years yet as it has been an honour to watch Giggs play all these years.
Giggs might manage the Welsh National Team to gain vital experience. One thing's for certain....He will NOT EVER take over at City. Like Hughes did!!
If Giggs ever gets the Wales job he will have a clause written in his contact of ---- NO FRIENDLY GAMES---- Ryan Giggs born and bred in Salford NOT Wales!!!!
Furthermore now he has also been awarded BBC sports personality of the year will he now refrain from berating the referee when a decision goes against United? not such a good personality there is they or a good example to kids either but he wears a red shirt so its ok is it?
ted knott, droylsden
Why dont you stick to your own page you saddo? You give decent citeh fans a bad name.
Do you want giggs to turn into a gentleman in the bellamy mode?
He'll be remembered for all the right reasons by all football fans, which is more than can be said for any of your abu dhabi wanderers garbage, past and present
A fine example of a player he is playing the best football of his career i hope he surpasses 900 games in a red shirt , imagine how many games he would of played without his hamstring injuries ......Class no other word
Ted Knott.....Correction - he was born in Cardiff to Welsh parents and raised in Salford after the age of 7 when his father (a rugby player) "went North" to play rugby league. Why else would he have chosen Wales when he could have had the opportunity to play in WC's, Euros with England (its certainly not because he wasn't good enough).