Sportmanchester unitedLouis Van Gaaluk football

Louis Van Gaal Appointed Manchester United Manager

King Louis: Van Gaal Appointed United Boss
Samuel Luckhurst
|
Open Image Modal

Louis van Gaal has finally been appointed Manchester United manager four weeks after David Moyes was sacked by the club.

The 62-year-old Holland coach has signed a three-year contract and will take over at Old Trafford following the World Cup finals.

"To manage the biggest club in the world makes me very proud," Van Gaal said.

"It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League. To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud. 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. This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I'm sure we will make history."

United's second managerial appointment within a year, Van Gaal was approached by Tottenham Hotspur in the wake of André Villas-Boas' dismissal in December, however he will instead manage Britain's biggest club instead.

Van Gaal will be tasked with returning United to the top of the Premier League table after the deposed champions plummeted to seventh under David Moyes.

Ryan Giggs, interim coach for the club's final four games, could prolong his career in the player-manager role he occupied during Moyes' 10-month reign.

Frans Hoek is the Netherlands' goalkeeping coach, and Marcel Bout, an assistant coach to Van Gaal, will follow him to old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal
The team players of Dutch football team(01 of19)
Open Image Modal
The team players of Dutch football team AZ carry their coach Louis van Gaal during the celebration of the championshipins in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, on April 26, 2009. The last time AZ won this title 28 years ago. AFP PHOTO / ANP/ ROBIN UTRECHT netherlands out - belgium out (Photo credit should read ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AZ Alkmaar's coach Louis van Gaal (R) an(02 of19)
Open Image Modal
AZ Alkmaar's coach Louis van Gaal (R) and director Dirk Scheringa (C) pose with the champion plate as they celebrate their title of Champions of the Netherlands on May 10, 2009 after their Dutch league football match against SC Heerenveen, in Alkmaar. AFP PHOTO/ ANP/ ED OUDENAARDEN ***NETHERLANDS OUT- BELGIUM OUT*** Alkmaar (Photo credit should read ED OUDENAARDEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hertha BSC Berlin v Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(03 of19)
Open Image Modal
BERLIN - MAY 08: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern (R) pours drinks a beer over the head of head coach Louis van Gaal after after winning the German Champions trophy o during the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC Berlin and FC Bayern Muenchen at Olympic Stadium on May 8, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FC Bayern Muenchen - Champions Party(04 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 09: Head coach Louis van Gaal of Bayern Muenchen celebrates the German championship title on the balcony of the town hall on May 9, 2010 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Muenchen Victory Parade(05 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 23: Louis van Gaal, head coach of Bayern Muenchen celebrates with the German Cup Trophy on May 23, 2010 in Munich, Germany. The team returns from the UEFA Champions League final football match against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 22, 2010. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(06 of19)
Open Image Modal
DORTMUND, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 12: Franck Ribery (R) of Muenchen celebrates with head coach Louis van Gaal (L) after scoring his team's third goal the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at the Signal Iduna Park on September 12, 2009 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FC Bayern Muenchen v 1. FC Nuernberg - Bundesliga(07 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 19: Louis van Gaal, head coach of Muenchen celebrates the 2nd goal for his team during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and 1. FC Nuernberg at Allianz Arena on September 19, 2009 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(08 of19)
Open Image Modal
BREMEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 23: Arjen Robben of Muenchen celebrates with head coach Louis van Gaal after scoring his teams third goal during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern Muenchen at Weser Stadium on January 23, 2010 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(09 of19)
Open Image Modal
BREMEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 23: Head coach Louis van Gaal of Muenchen tumbles while running away from Arjen Robben who scored the winning goal during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern Muenchen at Weser Stadium on January 23, 2010 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(10 of19)
Open Image Modal
BREMEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 23: Head coach Louis van Gaal of Muenchen tumbles while running away from Arjen Robben who scored the winning goal during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern Muenchen at Weser Stadium on January 23, 2010 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FC Bayern Muenchen v FSV Mainz 05 - Bundesliga(11 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 30: Arjen Robben of Muenchen celebrates scoring the 3rd team goal with his head coach Louis van Gaal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FSV Mainz 05 at Allianz Arena on January 30, 2010 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis v(12 of19)
Open Image Modal
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal celebrates Arjen Robben's goal during the first leg UEFA Champions League semi-final football match FC Bayern Munich vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Allianz Arena in the southern German city of Munich on April 21, 2010. Bayern Munich won the match 1-0. AFP PHOTO DDP / TORSTEN SILZ (Photo credit should read TORSTEN SILZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis v(13 of19)
Open Image Modal
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal celebrates Arjen Robben's goal during the first leg UEFA Champions League semi-final football match FC Bayern Munich vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Allianz Arena in the southern German city of Munich on April 21, 2010. Bayern Munich won the match 1-0. AFP PHOTO DDP / TORSTEN SILZ (Photo credit should read TORSTEN SILZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hertha BSC Berlin v Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(14 of19)
Open Image Modal
BERLIN - MAI 8: Head coach Louis van Gaal of Muenchen receives a beer shower after the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC Berlin and FC Bayern Muenchen at Olympic Stadium on May 8, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Kern/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hertha BSC Berlin v Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga(15 of19)
Open Image Modal
BERLIN - MAY 08: Head coach Louis van Gaal of Muenchen celebrates with champaigne after the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC Berlin and FC Bayern Muenchen at Olympic Stadium on May 8, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FC Bayern Muenchen - Champions Party(16 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 09: Louis van Gaal (R), head coach of Bayern Muenchen and manager Christian Nerlinger celebrate the German championship with the trophy on the way to the champions party at the Marienplatz on May 9, 2010 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis v(17 of19)
Open Image Modal
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal (R) shows his leg to supporters of Bayern Munich celebrating their team's Bundesliga success at the Marienplatz in the southern German city of Munich on May 9, 2010. Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title for the 22nd time. AFP PHOTO DDP / JOERG KOCH GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis v(18 of19)
Open Image Modal
Bayern Munich's Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal and his team celebrate their Bundesliga success at the Marienplatz in the southern German city of Munich on May 9, 2010. Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title for the 22nd time. AFP PHOTO DDP / THOMAS LOHNES GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read THOMAS LOHNES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bayern Muenchen v Werder Bremen - DFB Cup(19 of19)
Open Image Modal
MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 26: Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) of Bayern Muenchen celebrates his second goal with team coach Louis van Gaal during the DFB Cup second round match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Werder Bremen on October 26, 2010 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Giggs said: "I am thrilled to have the chance to serve as assistant manager. Louis van Gaal is a world-class coach and I know I will learn a lot about coaching from being able to observe and contribute at such close quarters. Manchester United has been a huge part of my life and I'm delighted to be able to continue that relationship in such a key role."

Enjoying his second stint as Holland coach, Van Gaal won three Eredivisie titles, the Uefa Cup and the Champions League with Ajax in the 90s, before succeeding Bobby Robson at Barcelona in 1997, where he collected two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey.

A scarcely believable Eredivisie championship win with AZ Alkmaar in 2009 preceded a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, whom he led to the Champions League final in 2010.

Van Gaal faced Sir Alex Ferguson four times as a coach. Twice with Barcelona in 1998, as they and United played out two unforgettable 3-3 draws, and with Bayern Munich 12 years later, when they eliminated United from the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip