What to do with flirting Van Gaal?
Tuesday 28 April 2009
AZ-chairman Dirk Scheringa has
a problem when Bayern Munich again come asking after
Louis van Gaal.
On Monday Jürgen Klinsmann
got the sack as coach of Bayern Munich.
The biggest club of Germany, in
bad times also known as ‘FC Hollywood’, now
want an experienced coach.
"A football guru will be best
for this squad," Bayern manager Uli Hoeness said.
"A coach with the status and
quality of Guus Hiddink," Franz Beckenbauer wrote
in his column in Bild Zeitung.
The job seems made for Louis van
Gaal.
The German employer of Mark van
Bommel have got no for an answer before from the successful
coach, but just this week Van Gaal indicated that his
ambitions reach further then just winning the league
with AZ.
The coach also said he can not
keep on telling the big European clubs no forever.
The football teacher, in his fourth
season at AZ, is also talking to the Belgian FA at the
moment about a role as coach of the Rode Duivels ('Red
Devils').
A job as national coach of an appealing
country is considered interesting by Van Gaal anyway.
Just how far can Louis van Gaal
go as coach of AZ?
AZ were ever so proud in 2005 that they had landed Louis
van Gaal as a coach and chairman Scheringa for four
years said almost every month just how great Van Gaal
is for his club.
It has put Van Gaal on a pedestal
and AZ don't think it's right to call him back right
now.
Every other younger or less successful
coach would have been told he should be happy with his
contract in Alkmaar and would not have been allowed
to talk to other clubs.
So Louis van Gaal seems to be bigger
than the club.
With 16 pieces of silverware to
his name and the title of 'Coach of the Year' in 2007
the man has certain rights, but his flirting with other
clubs and associations is not all that classy towards
the fans.
What does the coach think?
Louis van Gaal hopes AZ will be grateful to him for
the first league title in 28 years that he has helped
the club to.
Besides that he has founded a professional
organization and created a top class sports climate
in Alkmaar.
Van Gaal has shown 200% commitment
in the past four years (the first one to arrive in the
morning and the last one to leave in the evening). Perhaps
AZ are willing t think with him and perhaps they will
be considerate of his ambitions.
On Friday Van Gaal said: "Perhaps
AZ think: we don't want to be in the way of a deal with
this country or that club."
Besides his players also have the
right to talk about other clubs.
Topscorer Mounir El Hamdaoui, midfielder
Demy de Zeeuw and forward Moussa Dembélé
all three think they are ready for a European top side.
What can AZ do to keep Van Gaal
in Alkmaar?
Chairman Dirk Scheringa and General Director Toon Gerbrands
can first of all remind him of his contract that runs
until 2010.
When the club is tough and simply
says that there is no room for a second employer and
that a transfer to another club is not debatable, Van
Gaal will have no other option than to coach AZ next
season and show them the way in the Champions League.
That is not a punishment, because
a lot of the European limelight will shine on AZ next
season.
More than Van Gaal the players
will be able to make a name for themselves in Europe.
The coach himself doesn't need
to do that anymore, but he will certainly be keen on
helping youngsters such as Stijn Schaars, David Mendes,
Kew Jaliens and Maarten Martens one step further up.
What possibilities does Van
Gaal have abroad, besides coaching Belgium?
Bayern München is an interesting option, and English
club Sunderland would love to land Van Gaal as manager.
There is plenty of money there,
but they are situated in the north of England and Van
Gaal's wife has strong say in his future as well.
Manchester City has even more money,
but the best job available is at Chelsea.
They are the only top club in England
looking for a manager this summer.
But it seems that Carlo Ancelotti
and Frank Rijkaard are the prime candidates for the
position, as they are relaxed characters as is Guus
Hiddink.
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