RYAN GIGGS and Paul Scholes are involved in a £100m plan to get Vietnam to the World Cup.
The Manchester United legends have signed contracts to head up the elite PVF Academy in Hanoi which has developed a blueprint for qualification to reach the tournament in 2030.
Giggs has been appointed director of football while also being assisted by ex-United team mate Scholes at the set-up which is designed to be similar to St George’s Park.
They are both expected to be in Vietnam on a regular basis to help the project which is being overseen by ex-Leicester City director of football and FA council member Terry Robinson.
Irish businessman Mike Farnan’s company Red Strike Marketing has masterminded the academy which has been built for 300 youngsters from under-9s to under-18s.
The grand plan is to improve football in Vietnam as the country’s under-20s reached the last World Cup and the long term plan is to be part of an Asian consortium to jointly host the tournament.
Vietnam is 125th in the FIFA rankings and the hope is the academy - backed by the successful VinGroup - will help push the nation in time for 2030 by which time it is expected to be a 48 team World Cup.
It shows that Giggs and Scholes - two members of United’s all conquering team under Sir Alex Ferguson - have an incredible power from their United glory days to inspire kids worldwide.
Farnan, who previously worked as Manchester United’s international marketing chief, said: “Both Ryan and Paul always had a passion for development of young players given both of them came through a very successful academy themselves.
“Their role is very important as they are seen by all the 300 elite children as the role models and standard bearers of the academy.
”From his visit, Ryan has already identified a number of kids that he would like to take over to the UK to give them some experience playing overseas.
“Both Paul and Ryan could not believe the technical ability of the kids from u-9s up to the under 18s. They both took sessions over the four days through all the age groups and where very surprised with the standard.
“They were delighted with the attitude and the will to listen to what they were recommending to the boys.
“This is ground breaking, a country hiring an English Company to get involved from the very start where we advised on the design of the academy to running and managing it.
“Ryan said at the launch that this academy was better than Carrington and one of the best he has ever seen and that helps with the goal of World Cup qualification.”