Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: 'This is my last job'
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that his current role will be his last in the sport, and that he will retire once his contract is up, according to an interview the Dutch coach gave to the Daily Telegraph, published on Thursday.
Van Gaal, 63, is under contract with United until 2017. He said that, while he is enjoying his time leading the team, he was looking forward to stepping away from the game.
"I am also old. This is my last job. For sure," said van Gaal. "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 don't like it."
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Van Gaal has been manager at Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich and helped led the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Brazil last summer.
This season, van Gaal's first with the club, Manchester United is fourth in Premier League with 56 points and a 16-8-5 record.
Van Gaal said during his interview that he believed that Manchester United was the most well-known and widely supported club in the world.
"We were in the USA (in pre-season) and we played against Real Madrid, Liverpool, Roma, Inter Milan and LA Galaxy, five matches in three weeks — 300,000 fans and I think 280,000 of them in a red shirt," he said.
"I know that Manchester United is the biggest club in the world" van Gaal added. "Bigger than Real Madrid? Yes. In terms of global appeal, not history."
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Van Gaal's side defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 on Sunday at home in Old Trafford Stadium, and will face Liverpool on the road this coming Sunday.
- Christopher Woody
