Manchester United sacks Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho set to take over: Reports

MANCHESTER — Louis van Gaal has been sacked as Manchester United manager, with the club bringing the Dutchman’s two-year reign to an end, British media reported on Monday (May 23).

Van Gaal led United to the FA Cup last Saturday, but it was not enough to save his job after he received criticism throughout the season for his conservative tactics.

Despite the Cup triumph, United failed to qualify for the Champions League, scoring just 49 goals en route to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, and Van Gaal’s risk-averse style of football has alienated fans and baffled players, several of whom were ready to consider their futures if he stayed.

Van Gaal arrived at the club’s training ground Monday morning and was reportedly told by the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, that he will be removed. His Dutch coaching staff — including United assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg, goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek and performance analyst Max Reckers — have also left the club with immediate effect.

Reports said a club statement would be made at 8pm Singapore time Monday, but the time passed without an announcement. Reports of Van Gaal’s exit saw the club’s New York-listed shares soar 2.4 per cent in early session trading on Monday.

Jose Mourinho is almost certain to take over from Van Gaal, with the former Chelsea manager’s arrival ­expected to be confirmed on Tuesday.

Mourinho is expected to bring trusted assistants Rui Faria and Silvino Louro with him to United. He has reportedly offered a coaching role to club legend Ryan Giggs, Van Gaal’s No 2, but it is unclear if the Welshman has accepted it.

British reports said Van Gaal will receive a £400,000 (S$799,000) ­bonus for winning the FA Cup and will get a £5 million pay-off.

Unsettled goalkeeper David de Gea is expected to stay at Old Trafford now that Van Gaal is gone, and is likely to be joined at the club by Paris St Germain (PSG) striker ­Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who should form part of another significant summer of ­investment in the squad.

Ibrahimovic will leave PSG as a free agent after failing to agree to a new deal with the French champions, and the Swedish striker has been enthused by the prospect of a reunion with Mourinho, thanks to their time together at ­Inter Milan, where they won the Italian ­Serie A in 2009 before the player left for Barcelona.

The 34-year-old has already spurned lucrative offers to join the Chinese Super League and LA Galaxy as United are prepared to meet his wage demands and make him an assistant coach. The Swede is ­believed to be asking for the £300,000-a-week he earned at PSG. 

Mourinho will target a centre-half, at least one central midfielder, a right-sided forward and a striker.

United retain an interest in Southampton striker Sadio Mane, for whom they had a £20 million bid rejected last summer. Mourinho is also keen to entice John Stones, having failed to sign the England centre-half from Everton when he was at Chelsea last summer, although United face stiff competition from the Blues and Manchester City. Marquinhos, the PSG defender, is another potential target. AGENCIES