New Wales coach Ryan Giggs will find his playing career counts for little when he takes charge of his first match next month, according to the national women's team manager Jayne Ludlow.
Giggs was appointed as Chris Coleman's replacement last month, and his first game comes on March 22 when Wales take on the hosts in the China Cup in Nanning. They will then play either Uruguay or Czech Republic a few days later.
Ludlow, like Giggs, was Wales most decorated player before taking charge of the women's team four years ago. But while Giggs won 64 caps for his country, he was often criticised for not making himself available for international friendlies.
"I am sure Ryan will show with the competition out in China [the China Cup] and in the next month or so that he's very capable," Ludlow told the BBC.
"But no actually, I don't think his playing career will help him. I think at the end of the day it is about the personality, be it mine or Ryan's.
"People make a big issue of what players have achieved in the past but it didn't make a difference for me when I walked into that Wales dressing room for the first time [as coach].
"When you are actually making decisions on behalf of the group it is very different to being a captain.
"So my experience helped me to understand the environment, in many ways, but it didn't necessarily help me to work with the players and make sure I can get the best out of them."
