Louis van Gaal nearly returned to the dugout this summer with an old club of his before another coach grabbed the job.
Van Gaal is no stranger to the big jobs in football, having coached Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich among several other huge clubs.
However, the 72-year-old has not held a position at a club since his two-year stint at Old Trafford, having been hired in 2014 before getting sacked in 2016.
But that nearly changed over the summer when Bayern were desperate for a new manager after dismissing Thomas Tuchel.
According to the Dutchman, the Bundesliga giants had asked him if he wanted to take over after missing out on top targets Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, Oliver Glasner and even Tuchel.
Eventually, Bayern went for Vincent Kompany instead, joining from Burnley despite the club being relegated from the Premier League.
As per ESPN, Van Gaal said: “I am now reasonably healthy again. I could do it, but not as a club coach.
“I was asked by Bayern Munich, even before Kompany.
“As a national coach, you are busy for eight periods and during the year you scout with your staff. That could still be possible.”
Joining Bayern would have been a huge shock considering Van Gaal’s long absence from club football, stretching into its eighth year this summer.
However, he was manager of the Netherlands from 2021 to 2022, which was the third time in his career he has coached Die Oraanje.
And he has managed Bayern before, taking control in 2009 before being let go in 2011 having won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal Cup and finishing runners-up in the Champions League – all in 2010.
The veteran coach has also battled prostate cancer and the rigours of day-to-day management might not appeal as much to him anymore.
Van Gaal’s long career has been full of trophies along the way, winning league titles in three different countries – the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
He also led Ajax to the Champions League title in 1995 – the last time a Dutch club has lifted the trophy.
At United, he won the FA Cup in 2016 but the club decided to let him go to bring in Jose Mourinho as a replacement.
News Summary:
- Louis van Gaal reveals he was offered surprise manager’s job this summer before it went to Premier League legend
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