Sport360° view: Van Gaal makes sense but there is risk involved

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • In the frame: Van Gaal is reported to be in the running for the Man Utd position.

    If, as has been the case over the past 48 hours, the situation at Manchester United continues to run to script then Louis van Gaal will become the club’s 22nd permanent manager.

    A winner of league titles in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany he remains one of the most revered coaches in the world and, given the disastrous season endured by David Moyes, is a common-sense appointment.

    He has a proven track record of delivering success and his CV would instantly command respect within a disaffected United dressing room.

    He already has a major ally in Robin van Persie, having made the United striker captain of the Dutch national team.

    The United job, unfortunately, appeared just too big for Moyes. In terms of transfers, dressing room management, expectations and, perhaps most curious of all given his work with Everton, tactics.

    However, Van Gaal ticked all those boxes throughout his time with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Two of which are the biggest clubs in their respective nations, while Barcelona are not exactly Preston North End.

    Van Gaal has also performed this sort of recovery task in the past. When appointed at Bayern in 2009 he replaced Jurgen Klinsmann, who, like Moyes, proved somewhat overwhelmed at the helm of such a huge institution. Within 12 months, Bayern had won the double and were Champions League runners-up.

    On the pitch, Van Gaal brought through Thomas Muller and Holger Badstuber, now established internationals, continuing a theme throughout his career where he also successfully blooded the glorious Ajax side of the mid-90s.

    However, Van Gaal is not without his flaws. He would also arrive with a certain amount of risk.

    Just like one of Manchester’s favourite musical sons, Oasis, pretty much all of his best work was in the 1990s.

    Outside of an Eredivise title with AZ Alkmaar in 2009, his success last decade was limited solely to Bayern, having also failed to guide the Netherlands to the 2002 World Cup.

    Less than a year after lifting the Bundesliga title, as they were deposed by Borussia Dortmund, Van Gaal’s tactics, transfer policy, communication with the board and man management – he doesn’t do egos as he is the ego – were all brought into question and led to his dismissal in April 2011.

    Van Gaal’s Ajax took on Europe’s best and won, which earned him the Barcelona job but continental success was not matched at the Nou Camp, his time again permeated by fall-outs with high-profile players such as Rivaldo.

    Van Gaal's rambunctious, abrasive, stubborn attitude is sure to upset one or two first-teamers. His relationship with Wayne Rooney, given his supposed lacksadasical atititude to fitness and conditioning, will be interesting.

    There is also the question of his age – 62 – this will not be the longterm project as envisaged with Moyes.

    His work with the Dutch team at the World Cup could also mean he does not start work fulltime until July 14, surely impacting on transfer options.

    That said, it cannot get much worse for United right now.

    Recommended