Erik ten Hag has been instructed not to take the Manchester United manager’s post by Louis Van Gaal, who has warned that the club is more of a business than a football club. United are interviewing Ajax manager Ronald Koeman as a replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Van Gaal and Erik ten Hag
Van Gaal, who was fired by United hours after winning the FA Cup in 2016, advised his fellow Dutchman to look for work elsewhere. “Erik ten Hag is a great manager and that’s good for Manchester United, but Manchester United is a commercial club,” Van Gaal said. “I’m not going to advise him but he should choose a football club, not a commercial one.”
During his time at United, Van Gaal has been outspoken about how financial issues frequently made life tough for him.
The 70-year-old Holland coach criticized the club’s recruitment process and extensive pre-season trips, opinions shared by Jose Mourinho. Ten Hag is a wanted man throughout Europe, and his contract with Ajax expires in 2023. Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, and Julen Lopetegui are also on United’s radar.
In his two years as United manager, Van Gaal won the FA Cup, but he was fired just before Mourinho was hired. As United’s chief executive, the now-Holland manager worked alongside Ed Woodward, who was criticized for focusing on generating revenue off the field but failing to bring success on it.
Preparing for World Cup
On February 1, Richard Arnold took over the day-to-day administration of the club from Woodward and will oversee the hiring of a new long-term manager at Old Trafford.
In the past, Van Gaal has been critical of Woodward. After being fired by United, he spoke to the BBC and said: “I can imagine Woodward chooses Mourinho. He is a top coach. He has won a lot of titles. More than me.”
Van Gaal is the manager of the Netherlands, preparing his team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On Tuesday night, they will play Germany in a friendly match. United, meanwhile, is in sixth place in the Premier League, four points behind Arsenal, who now hold the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot.
Arsenal has a game in hand on United, who visit Leicester at Old Trafford this weekend in their bid to finish in the top four.
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