Whether you believe his approach to the game belonged firmly in the past, or perhaps that his mauling of headline hungry journo’s was a bit on the strong side, there really hasn’t been a management personality quite like Louis Van Gaal.
The mans been retired for nearly a year now, yet, not a day goes by where someone at Dispensable Soccer towers fails to bring him up.
Here’s some of our favourite bits from the man’s illustrious career.
Winning the Champions League with Ajax
Van Gaal was manager of Dutch Giants Ajax manager from 1991 until 1997. And what a spellbinding tenure it was.
The larger than life coach took the side to three Eredivisie Championships (1994, 1995 and 1996), one UEFA Cup and finally, his crowing moment, and UEFA Champions League title in 1995 after a solo Patrick Kluivert goal helped the side to victory over Milan in the final. Whilst various soccer picks favoured the might Rossoneri seeing of the Dutch side, Van Gaal’s sprightly young side marginally held out.
Such footballing royalty as Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Edwin van der Sar (and, er Winstone Bogarde) all rose through the ranks under the stewardship of Van Gaal.
Whilst many would consider the man’s micro management style as prehistoric, there’s been few bosses that have believed in youth quite like the Dutchman.
The 1995 against Euro giants Milan was pure testament to this.
Puts the boot into the Spanish media
If you think that Van Gaal’s resentment of post match interviews stemmed from his time in England, than you’d be quite wrong.
During his initial spell with Barcelona (he would lead them twice in his career), the Champions League winner would grow a toxic disdain for the Spanish press, all whilst leading the Catalans to two league titles.
With the fires already burning from a very fractious relationship with former World Player of the Year, Rivaldo, in which the Brazilian was extremely vocal of his misgivings for the Dutchman, one brave journalist truly got on the wrong side of Van Gaal and took the brunt of an epic rant.
Insinuating that Van Gaal’s recent decision to detail the reasons for dropping the Brazilian in the previous match was breaking a dressing room agreement, Van Gaal unloaded with;
“You’re very bad! Saying I broke my pact with Rivaldo? I never broke my pact. You’re very bad. Very very bad. No, no, no, you’re very bad. Very bad! ALWAYS negative. NEVER positive. ALWAYS negative.
Humiliation of Spain at World Cup 2014
Still holding on to much of the spine that claimed the trophy 4 years prior, Spain were considered heavy favourites by much of the world’s media leading up to their World Cup 2014 encounter with Van Gaal’s Holland.
Armed with a revived 5-3-2 as well as the luxury of low expectations, Van Persie and co proceeded to tear the holders a new one with some frantic counter attacking football.
Whilst his would eventually limp out to a talented Argentina side, a third placed finish was considered a success for a side that would soon have to ensure a horrid downturn.
And what about that hi-five with Van Persie!
When he compared football with “sex masochism”
He may have been the target of much angst by furious post Ferguson era supporters, never-the-less, the headline grabbing escapades of the Dutch master quickly became the stuff of Premier League legend.
As if his hilarious thanking of the guest Saxophonist during a gleefully awkward post season party wasn’t enough, Van Gaal would push the boundaries of BBC’s post water shed when taking exception to the follicle treatment of battering ram Marouane Fellaini by the equally frightening Robert Huth.
Speaking on the hair grabbing, he would complain during a post match interview – “It’s not in the books that somebody has to grab with the hair. Only in sex masochism… then it is allowed.”
All before grabbing the frightened interviewer by his very own bonce.
Winning the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar
By some accounts, Van Gaal’s greatest achievement came away from the spotlight of the European super club.
Taking charge AZ Alkmaar in 2005, funnily enough the club where his coaching ambitions were first formed nearly 19 years prior, Van Gaal would lead the the side to one of the most successful spells in their history.
Keeping tabs with the league’s elite from the get-go. A second placed Eredivisie finish would be follow by a third place and then, miraculously, a league title all in the space of three years.