May 20 – The announcement of Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager – football’s most open secret – has been widely hailed as the best possible appointment to restore the club to its former glories at home and in Europe after the one-season disaster under the luckless David Moyes.
Van Gaal, 62, who has signed a three-year contract, has won titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar, and will take charge at Old Trafford after leading his native Netherlands at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
“I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are,” said van Gaal, whose initial task, with Ryan Giggs as his deputy, will be to make sure United get straight back into the Champions League with the huge financial rewards it brings.
“This club has big ambitions. I too have big ambitions,” he said. “Together I’m sure we will make history.”
United finished seventh in the Premier League, have failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995-96 and are out of European football entirely for the first time in 25 years.
Van Gaal is now the man entrusted with restoring the club to the top of the domestic and European game after a troubled 10 months under Moyes.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is convinced he has appointed the right man this time. “His track record of success in winning leagues and cups across Europe throughout his career makes him the perfect choice,” said Woodward.
“In Louis van Gaal, we have secured the services of one of the outstanding managers in the game today. Old Trafford provides him with a fitting stage on which to write new chapters in the Manchester United story.”
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