Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
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Van Gaal: I held United talks

11 Oct 2009 - 12:20:14

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Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that Manchester United had lined him up to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in 2002.

Ferguson had announced that he would stand down as the Old Trafford boss at the end of the 2001-02 campaign only to then change his mind.

Van Gaal, who at the time was in charge of the Netherlands side, held talks with United's then chief executive Peter Kenyon about succeeding the Scot.

He said: "It was before the World Cup of 2002. I was in contact with Manchester United through Peter Kenyon.

"It was said to me that Alex Ferguson was going to retire.

"The moment he'd go, I'd succeed him. But in the end Ferguson didn't want to quit."

The 58-year-old van Gaal has enjoyed a chequered managerial career, also taking charge of Ajax, Barcelona and AZ Alkmaar before joining Bayern in the summer.