Dutch national team coach Louis van Gaal "has vowed to 'make history' at Manchester United after the club finally confirmed his appointment as David Moyes’s successor as manager" on Monday afternoon, according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES.
Van Gaal "has signed a three-year contract with United and will formally take charge at Old Trafford once Holland’s World Cup campaign has concluded."
Ryan Giggs, who "called time on his 23-year playing career," will become Van Gaal’s No. 2. 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. This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I'm sure we will make history" (LONDON TIMES, 5/19). In London, Mark Ogden reported Van Gaal "is set to take charge for the first time when the club begins its summer tour of the United States by facing L.A. Galaxy in the Pasadena Rose Bowl on July 23." An agreement "has been in place with Van Gaal for some time" (TELEGRAPH, 5/19).
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Also in London, Roger Blitz reported a "dominating personality with a particular disdain for the media," Van Gaal "will be expected to turn around the club’s form in quick time." With ManU "failing to qualify for European competition next season, his immediate task is to ensure the club competes for the Premier League."
ManU last week put the cost of failure to qualify for European competition at around £35M ($59M) (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/19). In N.Y., Joshua Robinson reported Van Gaal "brings a wealth of knowledge to Old Trafford from his time from managing several of Europe's top soccer clubs." He won the 1995 UEFA Champions League with Dutch club Ajax, and led Barcelona and Bayern Munich to domestic league titles. This, however, "will be his first taste of working in England" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/19). In London, Jamie Jackson reported ManU expects Van Gaal "to win the Premier League title next season" and has given him a £150M transfer fund "to rebuild the squad this summer" (GUARDIAN, 5/19).
BANNER COMING DOWN: In London, Richard Arrowsmith wrote following Moyes' "disastrous season in charge" of ManU, it has been confirmed that Van Gaal "will not be afforded a banner at Old Trafford's Stretford End" (DAILY MAIL, 5/19).
