Louis van Gaal Eyes Ajax Move for Manchester United Assistant Mitchell van der Gaag
Louis van Gaal, former manager of Manchester United, is reportedly considering proposing a move for Mitchell van der Gaag, the current assistant to Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Van Gaal, who is now working as an advisor at Ajax, holds a high regard for Van der Gaag and believes he would be a valuable addition to the Dutch club’s coaching staff. However, it may prove challenging to extract Van der Gaag from his current role at United.
Ajax, currently struggling in the Eredivisie and sitting in the relegation play-off place, have been contemplating a change in management. Maurice Steijn, the current head coach, is under scrutiny, but the club may opt to stick with him and focus on rebuilding next summer. In the meantime, Ajax has secured a deal for Alex Kroes from AZ to join as their new general manager and chairman of the board in March.
Van der Gaag has a history with Ajax, having previously coached the club’s youth side before moving up to work with the first team under Ten Hag. Both Van der Gaag and Ten Hag made the move to Manchester United together ahead of the 2022-23 season and are contracted until 2025. Van Gaal’s return to Ajax in an advisory role comes after the departure of sporting director Sven Mislintat last month. The 72-year-old had previously coached Ajax from 1991 to 1997 before joining Barcelona.
Despite Steijn’s appointment after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, Ajax has struggled to find success this season. The team has not won a match since August 31, leading to speculation about a potential change in management.
While Van Gaal sees potential in Van der Gaag, it remains to be seen whether Ajax can convince Manchester United to release their assistant coach. Van der Gaag’s role at United is considered crucial, and it is uncertain whether he would be willing to leave the club. Ajax may need to explore other options if they are unable to secure Van der Gaag’s services.
The potential addition of Van der Gaag to Ajax’s coaching staff could bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to the struggling team. Van Gaal’s admiration for Van der Gaag’s abilities suggests that he sees potential in the assistant coach’s ability to make a positive impact on Ajax’s performance.
As Ajax continues to navigate a challenging season, the club is eager to make changes and improve their standing in the Eredivisie. The addition of Alex Kroes as the new general manager and chairman of the board is a step towards restructuring the club’s leadership. However, securing Van der Gaag’s services would be another significant move in their quest for improvement.
It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, but the potential move of Mitchell van der Gaag from Manchester United to Ajax has garnered attention. The Dutch club’s struggles this season have highlighted the need for change, and Van der Gaag could be the catalyst for a turnaround. However, with his importance to Erik ten Hag’s team at United, it may prove challenging for Ajax to secure his services.
In conclusion, Louis van Gaal is considering proposing a move for Mitchell van der Gaag, Manchester United’s assistant coach, to Ajax. Van Gaal believes that Van der Gaag would be a valuable addition to the Dutch club’s coaching staff. However, it remains uncertain whether Ajax can convince Manchester United to release their assistant coach. The potential addition of Van der Gaag could bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to Ajax as they strive to improve their performance in the Eredivisie.