Less than nine months after winning the FA Cup final, Louis van Gaal has decided to call time on his career as a football manager.
That extra-time victory over Crystal Palace was the Dutchman’s last in charge of Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho replacing him just a few days later.
And, despite a reported big-money offer from an unnamed club in China, as well as talk of interest from Paris Saint-Germain late last year, Van Gaal is set to retire from the game at the age of 65.
The first day in training might be awkward… https://t.co/NSKpaBUfKG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 24, 2016
According to De Telegraaf, the former Barcelona and Ajax coach has cited family reasons.
“I could go [to China], but I’m still here,” he said.
“So much has happened in my family, you become again as a human being with your nose pressed to the facts.”
The paper reports that Van Gaal’s daughter suddenly lost her husband, and this has factored into his decision to opt against returning to the game.
He had initially planned to take a sabbatical and reassess his future, but it looks like the United job will end up being his last.
If it really is the end for Van Gaal, he will leave the game with league titles in three countries, domestic cups in four, and the 1995 Champions League title.
Not too shabby, even if things didn’t quite go to plan in the Premier League.
