After weeks of speculation the deal is confirmed.
Manchester United have named Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal as their next manager and he will take up the post after the 2014 World Cup, reports the club’s official website.
The 62-year-old has been the favourite for the position ever since David Moyes was sacked on April 22 and has signed a two year deal, with the option of a third depending on results.
Former interim boss and club legend Ryan Giggs will be van Gaal’s assistant after meeting with the Dutchman at his World Cup training camp in Noordwijk on Wednesday.
The hope is that in a few years time Giggs will be ready to succeed the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss having learned more about coaching.
Announcing the appointments, Chief Executive Ed Woodward said: “In Louis van Gaal, we have secured the services of one of the outstanding managers in the game today. He has achieved many things in his career to date and Old Trafford provides him with a fitting stage on which to write new chapters in the Manchester United story.”
Van Gaal first has to guide the Dutch national team through the World Cup in Brazil in which Red Devils striker Robin van Persie is likely to play a big part.
The veteran manager has an impressive CV having won Bundesliga, La Liga and Eredivisie titles during a varied career, as well as the Champions League with Ajax back in 1995.
After the chaos that surrounded Moyes’ 10 month tenure at Old Trafford the club were clearly keen to bring in a more established figure in the game.
In 2013/14 United finished with their worst ever Premier League points tally, no Champions League football for the first time since 1995 and no European football whatsoever for the first time since 1981.
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