Louis Van Gaal: King Louis

We all know David Moyes was sacked in April and a list of possible replacements breezed in from all angles. Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp was linked to the Old Trafford’s managerial hot seat so was Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Louis Van Gaal. All these listed managers distanced themselves from the job but one particular name (Louis Van Gaal) refused to go away. No disrespect to David Moyes though, I just think he wasn’t right for the United job, yea I have always said it knowing well that I wouldn’t be heard. I am just a fan based in Nigeria and the best I have done is buy merchandize, scream when we win, feel low when we lose, thank GOD for a draw and gist about my beloved team. Like my man Stan will say, Dipo shey dem dey pay you money ni? Lol
Anyway before I digress, the worst kept secret of recent times has finally settled in. Yea the appointment of Louis Van Gaal as Manchester United’s new Manager is this year’s worst kept secret, just like Jose Mourinho’s return to Chelsea was last season’s own. Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal aka Louis Van Gaal, O.O.N (Order of Orange-Nassau) is the present National team coach of the Netherlands and he has agreed to join my beloved Red Devils in a 3 year deal after the World Cup holding in Brazil. Louis Van Gaal (pronounced Lu Wi Van Hal) is good at what he does no doubt and his rich CV speaks for him. He has won trophies in the Netherlands with Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, in Spain with Barcelona and in Germany with Bayern Munich. His most successful reign is arguably his time at Ajax where he won the Champions league, League, UEFA cup, Super Cup, KNVB cup, Intercontinental cup and also the Johan Cryuff Shield which is like the English Premiership’s Community Shield.
What’s my take on Van Gaal’s appointment? I think it’s too early to start raising my expectations. We all thought Moyes was going to be an instant hit with the club, not necessarily win a trophy but at least remain in the class of the top four. That’s history now, sure he was well sorted and he should get a job in no time with the Celtic manager’s seat vacant but with his recent bar fight, his chances could be hampered. Though my guess is he would replace the next big Manager/Coach casualty in England before the turn of the new year. My fear with Van Gaal is when he was at some of the clubs he coached if he didn’t fight with a player today, he is in conflict with a member of the board or having a go at the media. A warning to him is the English press would always get under his skin directly or indirectly I just hope he can deal with it. I sincerely hope he recruits the right players to lead the United revolution. I believe in his abilities and coupled with the fact that he has a personnel that scouts the opposition ahead of games is a plus for me, though na still Man Utd money e dey chop. I am not expecting him to win the Premier League though he has been able to win league titles at the first time of asking with Barcelona in 1998 and Bayern Munich in 2010 but a top four finish is a must, FA Cup a good start and if he ends up with the Capital One cup in his first season then I might just be fully won over to his camp.
This 62 year old coach has won a total 16 trophies with all 4 clubs he has managed winning the Champions League (I know I have said this before) with Ajax in 1995 defeating the almighty A.C Milan. Our own (Nigerian born) George Finidi and Nwankwo Kanu played big roles in that successful year for the Dutch man. Big Up Naija, hehehehehehe.
Ryan Giggs retired just before Louis Van Gaal was named United’s manager. Who was he fooling? The moment he flew to see Van Gaal in Holland and Van Gaal agreed to make him his assistant, we all knew he was going to hang his boots. Van Gaal will never use a 40 year old man in his team. I must say I appreciate Ryan Giggs, his time at the club was a huge success winning over 40 trophies in a 24 year spell with the club, but I think he should have retired much earlier. So next up for him is to be assistant manager to Van Gaal which I think isn’t a bad idea, judging that the likes of Mourinho also learnt a few tricks (might not be directly) from King Louis. I just wish Van Gaal could have added Paul Scholes to his backroom staff *sad face*.
Welcome to Old Trafford King Louis, a successful reign we wish you………………….. From all UNITED fans (I guess).
Glory Glory Man Utd, Glory Glory Man Utd, Glory Glory Man Utd as the REDS go marching ON ON ON ON.
Thanks for you time people, stay BLESSED and do have a wonderful weekend ahead.