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Louis Van Gaal to Manchester United – Everything You Need to Know

By on May 19, 2014

Manchester United have finally appointed a full-time replacement for David Moyes; Louis van Gaal has taken over from interim manager Ryan Giggs. And, with the saga of the club finding their new manager now over, we would like to bring to you everything you need to know about the appointment.

Takeover

Naturally, United haven’t taken as big a risk with Van Gaal as they did in Moyes, handing the Dutch manager a three year contract bar the same six year deal Van Gaal’s predecessor was given upon arrival at the club. And, even with masses of top level coaching experience at clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the Red Devils have made sure Van Gaal doesn’t completely change their direction by keeping Giggs on as Van Gaal’s No2.

However, Giggs will still remain in charge at Old Trafford until Van Gaal joins the team in July following the World Cup, after he has finished his international duties as coach of the Netherlands. With him, assistant coaches Frans Hoek and Marcel Bout will also join United, while Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville, assistant managers under Moyes have all been left in the dark on thier positions at the club.

Rebuilding

For while Moyes signed Juan Mata during the January transfer window to turn things around at United, it is understood that Van Gaal will be given even deeper pockets to splash over the summer. According to the Guardian, he could be provided a full £150 million to spend this summer, part of which is almost sure to contribute to the signing of 18-year-old England left-back Luke Shaw, who United are optimistic they can lure away from Southampton with a £27 million bid and an £100,000-a-week contract.

Other transfer targets are likely to include midfielders to bolster the weak and aging midfield Van Gaal has inherited. The 62-year-old is also likely to seek for replacements for the departing center-back pair Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Welcoming

Following Moyes’ disastrous tenure, United fans undoubtedly would have welcomed any manager other than the Scot. Yet Van Gaal has been given a surprisingly warm welcome nonetheless, despite some critics claiming the manager simply a short term appointment. United vice-chairman Ed Woodward said of Van Gaal, in a statement from the club: “In Louis van Gaal, we have secured the services of one of the outstanding managers in the game today. He has achieved many things in his career to date and Old Trafford provides him with a fitting stage on which to write new chapters in the Manchester United story.

“Everyone is very excited about this new phase in the club’s history. His track record of success in winning leagues and cups across Europe throughout his career makes him the perfect choice for us. People know him as a larger than life character but I have also been extremely impressed by his intelligence, thoughtful approach to the role and his diligence. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Star forward Wayne Rooney has also given Van Gaal a warm welcome to the club, Tweeting: “Great to see Louis Van Gaal has been named @ManUtd manager. Looking forward to working with him.”

Meanwhile, forward Robin van Persie already knows Van Gaal via the former Ajax coaches’ management of the Netherlands national team, for which Van Persie has appeared 83 times for. In fact, the 330-year-old’s acquaintance with Van Gaal runs so deep that the manager has hinted that he will make Van Persie captain.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.