Louis Van Gaal

Sports

Former Man Utd coach, Louis Van Gaal retires from coaching

 

After a successful career, spanning 2 decades, ex-Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal has  retired from coaching. The 65 year-old who was fired at the Old Trafford winning the FA Cup in May 2016 after turned down a £45million Asian offer and cited ‘family reasons’ for his decision. Making the announcement  on Monday after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Dutch government for his contribution to football.

The ex Netherlands boss was quoted in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf thus,  “I thought maybe I would stop, then I thought it would be a sabbatical, but now I do not think I will return to coaching. So much has happened in my family, you become a human being again with your nose pressed to the facts.” 

He also managed Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ.

 

Van Gaal’s selected major honours
National titles: Ajax (1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96), Barcelona (1997-98, 1998-99), AZ Alkmaar (2008-09), Bayern Munich (2009-10)
Champions League: Ajax (1994-95)
Uefa Cup: Ajax (1991-92)
FA Cup: Manchester United (2015-16)

 

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Ronaldo still on Van Gaal's radar.

Manchester United boss, Louis Van Gaal is still keen on bringing Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. The 30-year-old has a contract with the Blancos until 2018 and just a month ago he disclosed his intention to retire with Real Madrid after winning a record fourth Golden Boot. 
Speaking after Manchester United’s  2-1 win at Watford on Saturday, the Dutch said.
“Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals. There is no trainer in the world that doesn’t like him. Of course we are looking – but are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable. With Ronaldo, let’s wait and hope.”
Ronaldo switched from Old Trafford to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009 for £80million.
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Group of Manchester United players confront LVG over rigid training

A group of Manchester United players confronted manager Louis van Gaal over his training methods earlier this season, according to reports. The Times and The Sun both reported on Thursday that the players concerned believe Van Gaal’s approach to training is too “rigid” and does not allow them to “express” themselves enough.
The Times said that, after dressing-room talks, senior figures had approached the Dutchman several weeks ago “to raise complaints about a lack of creativity” and to express their concern that “training orders have become so inflexible that they are hampering performances.”
The Daily Telegraph later reported that United’s senior players have been angry over the treatment of Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva and the over-reliance on video analyst Max Reckers to lead lengthy feedback sessions. The Sun also reported that there has been “some disquiet behind the scenes” over the handling of the David De Gea situation, with the Spain goalkeeper not selected so far this season and then denied a move to Real Madrid over a paperwork delay.
Despite those apparent concerns, De Gea has said he is happy to return to Old Trafford after international duty and is hoping to win back his place in the side ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Liverpool.
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Del Bosque disclose De Gea must play to keep his place in the squad

Coach of Spain National team, Vicente Del Bosque has disclosed that De Gea must return to action for Manchester United in order to keep his place in the national team. De Gea was set to complete a move to Real Madrid on Monday but the deal fell through when the signing was not registered with the Spanish Football League (LFP) before the deadline.
Real, who were set to sell Keylor Navas to United as part of the deal, have indicated that they will not appeal the decision and De Gea will remain at Old Trafford until at least January.

United boss Louis van Gaal has so far not selected the 24-year-old this season due to concerns over his focus, but Del Bosque said he must be playing first-team football if he is to remain in contention for the national team.
World Cup and European Championship-winning coach Del Bosque told Cadena Cope he had not yet spoken to the player and said: “If there is any need I will say something, but he will take this episode like any other. “Everything that happens is for a reason. I want him to play and to be happy, and to play well so I can select him.”

Asked if the former Atletico Madrid keeper’s place in the squad would be jeopardized if he did not reclaiming his starting spot, Del Bosque said: “If he doesn’t play then it’s very difficult he will come.”

Despite De Gea not playing for United since July, though, Del Bosque said he could feature in the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers, with Spain hosting Slovakia on Saturday before facing Macedonia in Skopje three days later.
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LVG'S philosophy responsible for my departure – Di Maria

Angel Di Maria has claimed he had rows with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and suggested that he struggled to comprehend the Dutch tactician’s philosophy during his time at Old Trafford. Di Maria left United to join Paris Saint-Germain just a year after his British record £59.7 million move from Real Madrid, with the Argentine winger struggling to make his mark during his solitary season in the Premier League.
In his first comments on his apparent rift with Van Gaal, Di Maria told ESPN Radio Argentina that he struggled to build a working relationship with the United boss. Di Maria also confirmed he felt he was played out of position by Van Gaal, with Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc keen to assure him that he would be used in his favoured role.

“Van Gaal has his philosophy and one of the things that made me want to leave is that,” Di Maria said. “It is difficult to adapt to Van Gaal. I had a couple of rows with him. “I started well [at United] and after that I got injured. Things didn’t go well for me and Van Gaal changed my position. I spoke with [Laurent] Blanc and his thinking was that I’d play in a similar position to where I did at Real Madrid.”
Di Maria made a sparkling start to his PSG career on Sunday, as he produced a delightful assist for Ezequiel Lavezzi during his side’s impressive 3-0 win against Monaco.
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LVG insists Manchester United will not Panic-Buy despite defeat

Louis van Gaal insisted Manchester United’s defeat to Swansea will not prompt him to panic-buy in the final 48 hours of the transfer window.
United lost 2-1 in Wales to end their unbeaten start to the season but manager Van Gaal, whose defence struggled to cope with Swansea scorers Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis and whose team have only scored three goals in four league games, said it will not change his thinking.

“It doesn’t have any effect,” Van Gaal told Sky Sports. “When you are scouting players, you know in advance, more than a month or two months, which players you can buy. It is not in the last moments you can panic.”

Van Gaal declined to answer questions about Javier Hernandez, who has been linked with several clubs, and the Real Madrid target David De Gea. But the Dutchman declared his team were probably “too dominant” at the Liberty Stadium to respond properly when Swansea changed shape in the second half by going to a 4-4-2 diamond system, prompting their comeback after Juan Mata put United ahead.
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Paul Scholes critical of LVG after barren draw with Newcastle

Former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes has questioned LVG’s assessment of United’s game saying there was nothing fantastic about it and that LVG must lead a title charge given the amount he has spent.
Louis Van Gaal said after the match that “United can be satisfied about the performance and that we played as team fantastic” to Schole’s disagreement.

“He said ‘fantastic’ a few times. I didn’t really think there was anything fantastic about it at all” Scholes said on BT Sport. “You are at home to Newcastle, you are expected to win the game. The visiting keeper has one save to make. Fantastic? No, not for me.”

“The pedigree is there, he has managed some great clubs, the top clubs in Europe. I think now, with the money he has been given, he needs to produce. He needs to do it this season.”
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Louis Van Gaal backs Rooney for striking role

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has shrugged off criticism of Wayne Rooney’s form and said he cannot understand suggestions his captain should be moved from the main striking role.
Rooney spent much of last season in midfield, but Van Gaal has installed the 29-year-old as his first-choice centre- forward after the departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.

However, the England captain has had only had two shots in as many fixtures for United this season in their 1-0 wins over Tottenham and Aston Villa — both of them off target — and recorded just one touch in the Villa penalty area on Friday.

However, Van Gaal, who feels he was pressured to pick Rooney as a central attacker, says he still has his backing. And while United have not bought a striker this summer he feels he has enough options in the position, with Adnan Januzaj, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson offering competition for places.

He said in a news conference: “All the media has advised me for one year that I have to put him [Rooney] in the striker’s position, so it is very amazing that after two matches you are doubting your own opinion. I cannot understand that. “I have always confidence in my players but we don’t have only Wayne Rooney in the striker’s position. We have Adnan Januzaj. He played in the USA [on United’s pre-season tour] in the striker’s position. I have given him that chance and he has shown he can do that. “We have Chicharito [Hernandez] and we have Wilson, so I don’t think we have a lack of strikers.”
Rooney was United’s 14-goal top scorer last season but has not struck in his last eight appearances for his club. Van Gaal was asked whether he should consider using Juan Mata, who has played as a right winger and set up Januzaj’s winner at Villa, as a No. 10 to improve the supply line.

“Maybe you can ask the board of Manchester United if you are the trainer-coach or the manager and then you can discuss it with your staff,” he replied. “I don’t discuss it with the media.”
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LVG didn't like me – Rafael Da Silva

Rafael Da Silva has claimed that Manager of Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal did not like him but was not certain if it had to with his nationality. Rafael joined Lyon for €3Million last week bringing an end to his seven year stay at Old Trafford.
The right-back had been a regular under previous managers Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes but began just six  league games under Van Gaal, the last of them in October. Van Gaal has had a difficult relationship with some Brazilians at previous clubs, including Rivaldo and Giovanni at Barcelona, and Lucio, whom he sold when he was Bayern Munich manager. 
And Rafael told Globo Esporte: “I know this history that he doesn’t like Brazilians, but I can’t say: ‘Oh, he doesn’t like Brazilians.’ I know that he didn’t like me, but if that’s because I’m Brazilian, I don’t know.”
Van Gaal also let Anderson leave United, although the Brazilian midfielder had fallen out of favour long before his appointment. Rafael said he felt Ferguson’s 2013 retirement was a “fatal” setback for his United career and felt that the Scot’s final year was his best at the club.

“I did the complete season, when he [Ferguson] left,” he added. “In 2012-13 I played almost every game, it was my best season at United, we were even champions. And that’s when they changed the manager. That change was fatal for me. I was going well, then Ferguson left.”

Rafael, who was reluctant to discuss Moyes, said he was disappointed when Van Gaal preferred to use winger Antonio Valencia at right-back.
“I won’t talk much about the relationship with Moyes, because it was too little, less than a year,” he said.
“Valencia started playing as a right-back for Van Gaal. He’s also a great player, but I was doing well in that position.
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I'm calling it quit in 2017 – Van Gaal

Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal have revealed that he is set to retire in 2017 in order to keep a vow he made to his wife. The 63year old manager insisted that no amount of money will make him go back on his word.
“I will give it up [in 2017],” the United manager told reporters. “I promised that to my wife. We have not many years together any more. That is the reason.  I have to admit I have said to her, when I met her and after our relationship seemed to be very good, that at 55 I shall quit. I am still working and next week I am 64.”

“I have done everything in my career as a manager,” Van Gaal added. “I have been in the Netherlands, my home country, in Spain, which is a fantastic league, and Germany is also a fantastic league. I participated in the World Cup. The only wish was the Premier League. Now I am here. Do I have to go to Qatar to earn still more money? I don’t think so. You have to enjoy also your life and your relationship with your wife.”

Van Gaal has won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar, and won the Champions League with Ajax as well as helping Netherlands to third place at the 2014 World Cup.
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