LONDON: Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal will have to wait until next week before being appointed as Manchester United’s new manager, British media outlets claimed yesterday.
Newspaper reports earlier in the day had suggested that the Dutchman’s appointment was imminent, but the Press Association said that although a “broad agreement” had been reached, “no deal has yet been signed”.
United refused to comment on the matter when contacted by AFP, but in a conference call to investors, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said that an announcement would be made “in due course”.
Van Gaal, 62, quickly emerged as the favourite to become United’s next manager after David Moyes was sacked last month and is reported to have held a meeting with player-coach Ryan Giggs in Holland recently.
Giggs, who was appointed interim manager following Moyes’s dismissal, was pictured in Van Gaal’s hometown of Noordwijk and is thought to have been offered the chance to work as his assistant. The Guardian newspaper reported that Giggs was invited to Van Gaal’s home, where the pair held a discussion “lasting around three hours”.
Van Gaal would not comment when approached by a reporter from British television station Sky Sports News as he left a book launch in Amsterdam.
The straight-talking Dutchman, who has also previously coached Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich, is currently preparing the Netherlands squad for a friendly game against Ecuador tomorrow
His contract with Holland means that he would not be able to join up with United until after this year’s World Cup in Brazil, which would not be until mid-July if the team reached the latter stages of the tournament. If appointed, he would become the first manager from outside the British Isles to take charge of United. Van Gaal admitted his interest in taking up the role last week.AFP
“I would love the job,” he said. “I hope that I shall be the one. It’s the biggest club in the world and it’s a fantastic challenge.”
However, he warned:
“You (the media) are thinking I’m the man, but the most important thing is whether Manchester United are thinking that.” Giggs, meanwhile, has praised Van Gaal, who led a young Ajax team to glory in the 1995 Champions League and has also won league titles in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany.
“He has a brilliant reputation,” said the Welshman.
“He is a successful manager in different countries. Obviously he has taken Holland to the World Cup.
He has a fantastic pedigree.” Giggs, record appearance-maker, is still to announce whether he intends to prolong his playing career until next season.AFP
