LOUIS VAN GAAL will only be tempted back into management by a big club in the Premier League – “just to spite Manchester United”.
Van Gaal spent two years in the Old Trafford dugout, winning the FA Cup, before he was replaced by Jose Mourinho in 2016.
The 66-year-old has not returned to management since, but seems to have kept an eye on the Red Devils, recently criticising the style of football utilised by his successor.
The futures of Antonio Conte at Chelsea and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal appear far from secure beyond this campaign, and Van Gaal may have his eye on developments at both clubs as he seeks revenge on United.
Van Gaal is quoted by De Telegraaf: “I won’t probably train a club anymore.
“If I do, it must be a big English club, just to spite Manchester United.”
Dutch media reports said earlier this year that Van Gaal had received several lucrative offers after leaving United, including a three-year, multi-million-euro contract in the Far East, most likely China.
Flamboyant and outspoken, Van Gaal said in mid-January that he was quitting, but changed his tune just two days later, saying instead that he was taking a year-long sabbatical.
“Then I will decide. It depends also on the offers I get,” Van Gaal said at the time.
- Additional reporting AFP
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Pot kettle stuff there criticising the current style of football being played.
Van Gaal has respect, has done great things and was trying to steady the team. He was treated horribly, without any class, while Man Utd flaunted his replacement in front of him. Mourinho, while a winner, is toxic to the game, said by every Man Utd fan for years, is now suddenly a giant of the game and a true gentleman. Seems the club found its level, and its fans redefined delusion.
@Graham: 100%
@Graham: I don’t know about that, or maybe it formed by your own personal experiences, as on this site my understanding is that many, if not the majority, of the United fans frequently criticise Mourinho’s character and actions, even in victory.
@Havid Dickey: I see some criticism from Man Utd fans, Nollaig for example, then they get slaughtered or accused of being closet Pool fans….
@Graham: I seem to recall that Van Gaal was himself flouted in front of Moyes in a similar way so I wouldn’t be too concerned about managers feelings in the overall context. It’s a fairly bitter admission from him though and shows him in a poor light. Fact is he wasn’t good enough and he should leave it rather than embarrassing himself.
@Graham: van gaals a dinosaur his tactics are out dated, Mourinho’s there to steady things and he’s doing a great job even if it’s hard to watch at times, he needs to redefine himself and play the Utd way or he will follow Van Gaal out the door.
And don’t assume what Utd Fans think about Mourinho just ask one,
I’d give him another year and if he doesn’t take the shackles off I’d sack him but I don’t think we will need to I’d say he’ll go to PSG if they come looking.
@Newgate: I admire some of the stuff he did. His football, like Jose’s, was toilet. However, he gave Rashford and Fosu their chance. Can’t understand how Fosu is on loan. Also, he shafted the prolific Danny Welbeck in to Arsenal, where he has scored about 15 league goals in 4 years. That was a good move. Let’s not forget he won the cup too. His team were depressing to watch though.
@Bobby tolster: He’ll definitely be gone at the end of this year or next at the latest. It’s what he does.
@Graham: I am a Utd fan and I think Mourinho is disgusting and vile human being and it sickens me that he is in charge of utd. Give me pochettino any day.
@Newgate: where was LVG flaunted in front of Moyes? He got the bullet before season was over. There was no guarantee LVG was taking over. He was still Netherlands manager. Giggs was put in charge till they knew what he was doing.
@Havid Dickey: agreed David. As a United fan, I wouldn’t be a big fan of Mourinho, particularly for his character (or lack thereof), but purely from a football perspective I’d definitely have him ahead of LVG. I know it irrelevant now, but they should have appointed Mourinho straight after Fergie retired and paid no heed to Bobby Charlton. Don’t think he would have had as big a clear out as Moyes and LVG did and would have made better signings. Also, he may have been and gone by now having steadied the ship over a few seasons.
@Sloop John G: he had already agreed a return to Chelsea at that point as far as I know
@Havid Dickey: true , i dont know who else would be better at United these days – they never finished outside the top 3 under Fergie and haven’t finished inside top 3 since he finished – Van Gaal had his chance , he had team playing dull as dishwater football – united are now second only to a rampant City under Pep that are hard for anyone to catch – second is a big improvement on 7th – Van Gaal is of course bitter how it ended but there wasn’t many united fans wishing he had stayed – most people throwing stones around the subject are not united fans , mostly ABUs who love to throw stones , whine about Mourinho but whose club are behind both Manchester `clubs in the league – not to mention both having best defensive record at mo…second and progressing in Champons league football compared to 7th and out of CL – a bit of balance and reality /comparison to the Van Goal era wouldn’t go astray….
@Johnny Bravo: if you remember Fergie’s last CL game against Real Madrid, the one where Nani was sent off, Fergie went ballistic because I’m sure he had decided to retire at that stage, even though he didn’t announce it for a couple of months. Mourinho, who was always friendly with Fergie, was very magnanimous that night (which is unlike him) saying the better team lost which made be think that he was trying to endear himself with both the United board and fans, knowing there was a managerial vacancy coming up. He only agreed to join Chelsea much later than that when Charlton voted against his appointment. Only a theory, could be wrong.
Sensational Football Manager. Hope he sticks it up to them.
@Is mise muc gránna: he was sensational with Ajax 20 years ago. Hes had a great career but his bitterness towards united is misplaced. He was utter rubbish for them and his transfer choices were really really poor.
@Robert O Farrell: there are Nan Utd fans here who believe the current manager has been even worse.
@Graham: Not worse, but a bad choice in my opinion.
@Graham: yes graham and there are lots and lots of pool fans that care and think they know what’s best for the club, what’s their fans think and say also too apparently
@Graham: really , you think united fans would prefer be finishing 7th , out of champions league football and playing Van Gaal football , your Fking deluded mate….
If you had to pick one from Moyes Van Gaal or Mourinho to take over at ur club it would by Mourinho everyday of the week.
Van gaals Utd where sh*t but at least he brought in Anthony Martial so alls forgiven.
@Bobby tolster: Your image of the reality of who “brought in” any player to a club is wholly misplaced. Van Gaal had a hand in transfers in a fashion typical of most clubs – and radically different to what Ferguson did and Wenger does. There is a framework at United responsible for bringing Martial to the club – He would have come from Monaco regardless of who sat in the dugout. Not totally sure how you can follow the modern game and not know this.
Yeah ! Big English club sums it up . These yobbo s won’t go to a club unless they have bottomless pits ? He went to united and we know what happened there .