Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has said that he will hang up his boots when he finishes his contract with the club. The 63-year-old, who has been one of the tactical visionaries of the 80s and 90s, is currently in the first year of his United contract and still has two more years on it.
While there is no conformation on whether the Dutchman will resign should the club want him to, there is an understanding that he will leave the club once he completes those three years.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has come under a lot of criticism over his time at United as his team failed to produce performances that would inspire any kind of confidence. Yet, Van Gaal believes that at the end of his contract, United will be a top club again.
The 63-year-old started his career in football management as an assistant at AZ back in 1986. Over the years, Van Gaal graduated to first team coach and won league titles in The Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Apart from that, he also won the Champions League with Ajax and propelled an erratic Netherlands national team to third place at the World Cup.
“I am also old. This is my last job. For sure,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “I have to pay attention to my kids, my grandchildren but also to my wife. They deserve it. Now I cannot pay that attention. I was not at the birthday of my grandson for example. I don’t like it.”
At this moment in time, United are embroiled in a rat racea for Champions League qualification with Arsenal, United and fierce rivals Liverpool all vying for two spots.
The Reds, who United play on Sunday, are just two points behind and have been in brilliant form since the start of 2015.
“That’s our goal, yes, and it depends on how we end this season,” Van Gaal replied when asked if the club can win both the Premier League and the Champions League. “We have to qualify for the Champions League and we have many tests next year.
“That also develops the level of your team, and of course how many players can come in to improve our selection.”