The backward step Manchester United took in 2015-16 under Louis van Gaal’s stewardship has reportedly cost the Dutchman his job.
Manchester United fired van Gaal as manager Monday, ending his tenure after two seasons. Manchester United announced the decision to the New York Stock Exchange and on its website Monday, following 48 hours of silence from within the club and furious speculation from outside.
“Louis van Gaal is to leave Manchester United, with immediate effect,” the club said.
Manchester United said little, but Van Gaal added some color to his depurture.
“I am immensely proud to have helped United win the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club’s history,” van Gaal said in a statement. “I have been privileged during my management career to have won 20 trophies, but winning the FA Cup, which is steeped in so much history, will always be one of the most special achievements of my career.
I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan. I believe that the foundations are firmly in place to enable the club to move forward and achieve even greater success.”
Van Gaal led the Red Devils to a fourth-place finish in the 2014-15 Premier League season, but they slid to fifth in 2015-16 and failed to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Van Gaal also endured heavy criticism for Manchester United’s style of play, which fans, pundits and even sponsors attacked as dull.
Van Gaal led Manchester United to victory in the 2016 FA Cup final Saturday, but celebrations turned surreal as The BBC reported minutes after the final whistle that the club would fire van Gaal and change managerial direction.
Manchester United hired van Gaal in 2014 to restore its winning tradition, following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and David Moyes’ disastrous spell as his replacement. Van Gaal added one piece of silverware to the Old Trafford trophy room, but Manchester United’s league position and entertainment value were too bad for him to retain his job for the final year of his contract.
Van Gaal also presided over a massive transfer expenditure, which yielded disappointing results.
Jose Mourinho is widely expected to replace van Gaal this week.
Ryan Giggs, a legendary former Manchester United player and van Gaal’s assistant manager, could leave the club in the wake of Mourinho’s arrival. Giggs was expected to replace van Gaal, but Mourinho’s availability changed Manchester United’s thinking on its previous succession plan.
Click to read why van Gaal had to go >>
Thumbnail photo via Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports Images
