LOUIS van Gaal has emerged overnight as FSG’s likely choice to fill the newly created role of Sporting Director at Liverpool Football Club.
A number of newspapers in Britain, including the Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian all report that FSG are likely to offer van Gaal the post and that he himself would be delighted to take the job.
The post, which was created in the wake of Damien Comolli’s sacking earlier this year, is part of a major re-structuring process which FSG are implementing. The idea is to modernise the club and implement a long-term philosophy on and off the pitch in a manner akin to that of Ajax and Barcelona.
The Dutchman has won titles at both the above mentioned clubs as a manager and it is doubtless his connections with both have pushed him to the top of John Henry’s and Tom Werner’s list.
The Guardian says: “van Gaal’s work with Ajax and Barcelona undoubtedly appeals to Liverpool’s owners…That strengthens his claims for the proposed sporting director role”.
Van Gaal has limited experience in a director’s role. Having been a successful manager across Europe, including at Ajax and Barcelona (as we’ve heard), at Bayern Munich and with the Dutch National side, he was due to return to Ajax in a directorial capacity earlier in the season. Unfortunately for van Gaal but perhaps fortunately for the Reds, long-term adversary Johan Cruyff scuppered the deal by mounting a legal challenge against the board of directors. It now seems as if Anfield is van Gaal’s preferred destination.
Meanwhile, Ladbrokes have slashed their odds for van Gaal to become next Liverpool manager from 16/1 to 6/1. Whilst the Guardian note that: “van Gaal has not yet called time on his managerial career”, it is unlikely that FSG would be interested in him for that position as they are believed to want a young, hungry manager working with an older more experienced Sporting Director.
Ladbrokes reminds readers that whilst the Sporting Director role is the job that van Gaal has been more strongly linked with, his limited experience as a director may go against him.
“Sporting Director at Anfield, a role he is currently unfamiliar with, having no previous experience in it. His managerial credentials are more impressive though.
“Success at new clubs has been traditionally instantaneous for van Gaal….. A former Champions League winner, van Gaal has also won the domestic league title with every club he has been at.”
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Andre Villas Boas and Roberto Martinez remain the front-runners for the vacant manager’s position, with both fitting the blue-print that FSG have drawn up, however, if we know anything about football it is that nothing is certain. Whichever role van Gaal is offered, and it is increasingly likely that it will be the Sporting Director’s, having a man with such a wealth of experience, knowledge and success in the game, can only bode well for Liverpool Football Club moving forwards.
You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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I would happly have a younger manager such as Martinez work with someone like LVG.
It is about time that we got off our high horse and realised the facts that we are not the attraction that we once were.
FSG have a policy and they have shown they are prepared to be ruthless in acheiving it.
Raffa would not be comfortable working with a Director of Football and while he is an excelent tactician his man management skills are very poor. This showed when Paco left and Raffa started to loose the dressing room. He is also paranoid.
I personnaly would not want AVB as he has already failed at CSK London and several players have made comments about his man management skills.
Martinez has premiership experience and lets remember he was the one who started Swansea playing good football. His philosophies are right – good passing attractive football.
LVG and AVB for me!
Here’s why I think AVB is the right man for the job…
http://katecohensoccer.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/why-andre-villas-boas-will-be-a-success-at-liverpool%E2%80%8F/
YNWA
nah,get rikard and van gaal pliz.martinez and avb wont command respect of players. in any event we nid manager now b4 the euros lest we fail to sign a single player becoz prices will shoot after the euros
This is pure speculation by rag newspapers and yes, I include the Guardian in that. A lot of Liverpool fans go on about how anti Liverpool the media is and then go around writing articles on rubbish they create. I’m not saying it’s wrong to discuss, but over the last few days all articles are based solely on what’s in the newspapers. People go on about the ‘Liverpool way’ and yet they can’t live it themselves. ie…they can’t wait for concrete news so feed on the made up gossip.