Manchester United's young players have reasons to be hopeful if, as expected, Louis van Gaal is appointed as the club's new manager this week. The manager has a record of promoting young players into his first teams and has pointed to his development of Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger as evidence of how his philosophy has been successful.
With United hopeful of announcing the Holland coach as their new manager this week – though there is no plan to have an unveiling until after the World Cup – Van Gaal is set to take charge of a squad who need rebuilding following a title defence that ended 22 points behind the champions, Manchester City.
The 62-year-old has won championships at every club he has managed – Ajax, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich – meaning he will hope to continue this success in a fourth different country following these tenures which were in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany.
When at Barcelona in the late 1990s Van Gaal gave Xavi and Iniesta debuts, while in his last club management post Müller was also given his chance in Bayern's first team, and Schweinsteiger's all round game was developed by the Dutchman.
Van Gaal is clear what makes him different from other coaches. "I think it's my philosophy because it binds players with my training and in my career I have had a lot of players who are fascinated by that philosophy," he told Fifa.com late last year. "They find it nice to take part in it because it's attacking, technical and tactical. They can show their qualities more than ever.
"The characteristics come back to my point on vision. You have to play as a team and not as individuals. That's why I'm always going back to the vision, then the team, and then which players fit in my system, a 1-4-3-3, because I'm always playing that. If a young player can do it, then I select him. If it's an older player, it doesn't bother me; it's not the most important factor. Age is not important."
Van Gaal has pride in how some of his former charges have become elite players. "It makes me happy and proud," he said. "But Xavi, Iniesta, [Thiago] Motta [at Barça], Müller or [David] Alaba [of Bayern] fitted in the profile of the position. For example, I talked with Alaba about the left full-back position. He didn't want to play there. He was educated as a midfielder but I had a vacant position for him because I had injuries and thought he could do the job. After a lot of talking, in the end, he played there because he wanted to help the team. Where is he playing now? Left full-back."
Of Schweinsteiger, whom Van Gaal managed at Bayern between 2009-11, he said: "He did not fit in the position of left-winger for me. When I arrive at a new club, I talk with every player about his position, his personality, the team and how he works with his team-mates. I told Bastian: 'I think you have to play in the midfield.' At that time, we played with two holding midfielders and a No10, which was [Thomas] Müller. Then he played in a holding role and found he liked the game more than ever. Now he's playing at No6 with [Pep] Guardiola [as manager].
"There are not many players who have a wide orientation. When you have a wide orientation then you can fit in the profile of a No6 or No10. But then you have to train. Schweinsteiger never played there, so after two weeks of training sessions and two matches, he felt he could do more than ever. That's why the philosophy is the binding factor."
Van Gaal, who will offer Ryan Giggs a senior role on his new United staff, stated he always retains a coach from the previous regime. "When I go to a new club, I always want to keep one coach from the existing staff and that person [at Bayern] was Herman Kerland, who is still working under Pep Guardiola. I wanted to know who was coming through the youth system – and he is the man who said to me: 'Muller, Badstuber and Alaba. These are the players.'
"So I let them train with the first team, I observed them - and then I decided where they were going to play. Also, Badstuber was originally a left-back and I put him as a left central defender."
While Wayne Rooney was due to be offered the captaincy by David Moyes before he was sacked, Van Gaal may favour his international captain, Robin van Persie. He described what he wants in an on-field leader.
"This is more based on characteristics, which is very important for me," said Van Gaal. "I have to live with them and give them more responsibility. I have to admire him also because of his personality, his identity. My captains are very professional, but also very ambitious and honest. You can see these qualities in the captains I have chosen.
"Age is not important. When I moved to Barcelona [in 1997], Guardiola was 27 years old. Traditionally in Spain, the captains are the eldest players. I wanted to give him responsibility and transfer my philosophy. I have to click with my captains.
"I told Pep: 'You have to be my captain.' He said: 'No, no.' I told him: 'I choose the captain and you understand the game how I understand the game.' That's why I made him my captain. You can see what he is now."
Van Gaal misses club management. "Every day. I used to be a physical education teacher because I loved communicating with young people," he said. "Now I have to select, watch, observe and I only have contact with my players about eight times a year. That is what I don't like."
