By DAN KARELL
Manchester United finally made it official on Monday. Louis Van Gaal will be their new manager.
The club waited until after the Netherlands’ friendly match on Saturday against Ecuador to announce the news, which will see the Dutch National Team head coach take his first job in England. The 62-year-old signed a three-year contract with Man United.
“It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League,” Van Gaal said in a statement. “To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud. I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are. This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”
Van Gaal will officially begin the job following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Dutchman takes over for Ryan Giggs, who Van Gaal has named an assistant coach. Van Gaal is Man United’s third head coach in the last 12 months after the club’s disastrous run under David Moyes.
Van Gaal formerly coached at FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and AZ Alkmaar. He’s won the Bundesliga once, La Liga twice, the Eredivisie four times, and the UEFA Champions League once, back in 1995. Van Gaal has been Netherlands manager since July 6, 2012.
Here are some more stories to kick off your week:
WENGER SET TO SIGN NEW ARSENAL DEAL AFTER FA CUP TITLE
Ending Arsenal’s much dramatized nine-year trophy drought seems to have been enough to convince Arsene Wenger that he’s still got a few years left in the tank.
The 64-year-old Arsenal manager will sign a new three-year contract in the coming days with Arsenal according to reports in England, with the new deal worth as much as £22-24 million, depending on who you read. Wenger has suffered a lot of criticism in the past few seasons for Arsenal’s struggles, and despite having an offer on the table since last fall, the Frenchman had waited until the final game of the season to make his decision.
The 3-2 triumph over Hull City in the FA Cup final gives Wenger his 12th trophy with Arsenal, and his new contract will take him over 20-years as manager of the club. Wenger remains by far the longest-tenured manager in the English Premier League, with the second-longest currently held by Newcastle’s Alan Pardew. Pardew was appointed in Dec. 2010.
NEUER A DOUBT HEADING INTO GERMANY CAMP
Coming off a dramatic DFB Pokal title over rivals Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a doubt heading into German National Team training camp.
The 28-year-old hurt his shoulder in the 2-0 extra time win against Dortmund on Sunday and was seen on Monday with a sling on his right arm. According to reports in Germany, Neuer underwent an MRI and that Bayern will disclose the results when they are available.
Germany have other doubts from their Bayern contingent, with Philipp Lahm having to leave the German Cup final with an injury and Thomas Muller seen struggling to walk after the match.
QUICK KICKS
River Plate have won the Argentine Torneo Final with a 5-0 rout of Quilmes in the final game of the season. (REPORT)
Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta has publicly stated the club’s interest in Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez. (REPORT)
Paris Saint-Germain have made the summer signing of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard a priority. (REPORT)
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder James Milner this summer. (REPORT)
Hertha Berlin have found their replacement for Adrian Ramos, signing FC Basel forward Valentin Stocker on a four-year contract. (REPORT)
Highly-rated Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala said that he’d prefer a move to Chelsea rather than Manchester City because Chelsea is in London. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Van Gaal succeeding at Man United? Glad that Wenger will remain at Arsenal? Can you see Germany in the World Cup without Neuer in goal?
Share your thoughts below.