Former Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal has told his country man and current Ajax manager, Erik ten Hag not to take the Manchester United manager’s job, claiming they are more of a business entity than a football club.
Ten Hag was interviewed last week by the United Hierarchy to take charge of the club at the end of the season according to reports from England as United look to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
But Van Gaal who was sacked by United hours after lifting the FA Cup in 2016 told his fellow Dutchman to look elsewhere for his next job.
‘Erik ten Hag is a great manager and that’s good for Manchester United, but Manchester United are a commercial club,’ Van Gaal said.
‘I’m not going to advise him but he should choose a football club, not a commercial one.’
It’s not the first time Van Gaal is speaking out against the club since his unceremonious exit.
Talking to the BBC after his United sacking, he said: ‘I can imagine Woodward chooses Mourinho. He is a top coach. He has won a lot of titles. More than me.
‘What I don’t like is Woodward contacting my successor, knowing in his mind he will replace me and he keeps his mouth shut for six months. Every Friday I had to go into press conferences and be asked what I thought about the rumours. What does that do to the authority of the coach?
Van Gaal, 70, complained about long pre-season tours and the club’s recruitment process, saying the club favored commercial deal and success than football success, views echoed by Jose Mourinho.
Ten Hag’s Ajax deal ends in 2023 and his success with the club makes him a hot cake in Europe. Manchester United are also keen on Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui.
