E-Paper
Van Gaal’s legacy: Big spending, dull games
MANCHESTER: So, after $375 million in transfers, two seasons of often mind-numbing soccer, one trophy and countless references to his “process” and “philosophy,”
MANCHESTER: So, after $375 million in transfers, two seasons of often mind-numbing soccer, one trophy and countless references to his “process” and “philosophy,” Louis van Gaal is no longer manager of Manchester United. The English Premier League club announced his departure on Monday evening.
After David Moyes’ ill-fated 10-month tenure in the 2013-14 season, post-Alex Ferguson, United needed an experienced, larger-than-life coach to bring stability to England’s biggest club.
Van Gaal was the man they picked. He was handed unprecedented money in the transfer market to renew the squad and take the club back to top echelons of English and European game.
Within two seasons, he is out — and United look no closer to regaining its stature of old, on the field at least.
So how will Van Gaal be remembered? Certainly his brand of football won’t be missed by the regulars at Old Trafford. And United’s owners will be scratching their heads at where all the money went.
Yet his occasional frivolity on the touchline have shown a lighter side to the man nicknamed the “Iron Tulip,” and his drip-feeding of academy players into the first team could reap its rewards in the years to come. In Anthony Martial, United could also potentially have a world star in its midst.
But Van Gaal will forever be known for the money he spent on new signings without ostensibly improving his squad, the dull football his team produced, his defensive tactics that had the players up in arms and divisive nature that left the fans fuming.
