After a disappointing 10 months, David Moyes was sacked just under a month ago – Manchester United finished 7th in the table, a respectable position for sure, but not for a sports giant like the Red Devils. The team would not qualify for the Champions League, the first time since 1995, and would also finish outside the top three for the first time in Premier League History. Ryan Giggs was named interim manager for the last few days, and although some were calling for him to become the full time manager, it was clear that another manager was being hunted.

Today, Louis van Gaal was confirmed to be Manchester United’s new manager – he signed a three-year contract which will being after the 2014 World Cup where he will manage Netherlands. Ryan Giggs stays on the managing team as an assistant.

The Dutchman, aft er a brief two year role as assistant manager at AZ Alkmaar (a Dutch team), took on another assistant manager role at Ajax – he would become manager in 1991 after three years of being an assistant. He would gather three Eredivisie titles (1994, 1995, 1996), a KNVB Cup (1993), three Johan Cruijff Shields (1993, 1994, 1995), a UEFA Cup (1992), a UEFA Champions League (1995), and a Intercontinental Cup (1995). An incredibly impressive run no doubt, especially during the 1994-1995 season where his squad went unbeaten in both the Eredivisie and the Champions League.

In 1997, van Gaal joined Spanish side F.C. Barcelona, taking over from Bobby Robson – he lead the team to two La Liga Championships (1997, 1998) as well as a Copa del Ray trophy (1997). Despite the success, the Dutchman was heavily criticised during his tenure. He claimed that he found implementing his tactical systems difficult due to cultural differences between him and his players, and he also stated that some players were unwilling to follow his lead – one such player was Rivaldo, and they had many arguments over where the Brazillian should play. Van Gaal left in 2000.

From 2000-2002, van Gaal managed the Netherlands national team – he was not as successful as many people were expecting, and failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Van Gaal stepped down in late January, and Dick Advocaat took over.

The Dutchma n returned to Barcelona for the 2002-2003 season, but results were very inconsistent – in their first eleven games, the side tallied four wins, four draws, and three losses. They would then lose three games in a row, and this would spark the sacking of van Gaal in January (this happened despite an improvement in the side’s play). Barcelona was very close the relegation zone when he left, just three points above the bottom of the table.

In 2005, van Gaal returned to AZ Alkmaar, this time as the manager for the team – he replaced Co Adriaanse. Again, he was less successful than expected. He lead the team to second and third place finishes in the Eredivisie (2005 and 2006 respectively), as well as a runners-up finish in the KNVB Cup (2006). Van Gaal announced that he would leave at the end of the 2007-2008 season, but his players urged him to stay. The side improved greatly the last year of van Gaal’s tenure, and they would be crowned champions of the league – during their run, they were unbeaten in 28 straight games.

Louis van Gaal’s success did not come early at Bayern Munich F.C., and there were calls for his firing in November 2009 – van Gaal insisted he needed time to install his offensive system, and he would begin to tweak and alter the German side’s system. That previous August, van Gaal was reunited with Arjen Robben after he was signed from Real Madrid, and the manager would continue to add many young players to the team’s starting XI, including Thomas Müller – he would later convert Bastian Schweinsteiger from a winger to an impressive defensive midfielder. After all of this, Bayern Munich F.C. were crowned Champions League of the Bundesliga, and would win the DFB-Pokal in May, thus securing the domestic double. He failed to win the treble after losing in the Champions League finals against Internazionale (who was lead by van Gaal’s pupil José Mourinho), who themselves would win their treble. Van Gaal received German Manager of the Year that year. Things slowed down for the side after that, and despite statements that Bayern Munich F.C. would extend the Dutchman’s contract in 2010, he was sacked in April 2011 after dropping out of the top three places in the Bundesliga.

After another spell managing the Netherlands national team, where he will lead the side to the World Cup in Brazil, van Gaal will manage Manchester United – with such a rich and successful history, fans and the board alike will be in safe hands. Only time will tell how successful he will be in the Premier League however.

“This club has big ambitions. I too have big ambitions” – Louis Van Gaal