4 Young & Talented Replacements For Louis van Gaal At Manchester United

The Iron Tulip Louis van Gaal has now been at Manchester United for 2 seasons now, with the Red Devils slowly getting back to what they were after a turbulent period under David Moyes. The job that the Dutchman has been doing thus far, has been decent enough, and just as he always has, van Gaal is building the foundation of a side that can achieve big things in the future. But, the irony lies in the word ‘future’ itself. Louis van Gaal is supposed to stay at Old Trafford just a season more after this and all that time won’t take too much effort in passing. It’ll pass by so quickly that we won’t ever have the time to sit back to realize it.

And as I write this, time is fleeting past for Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. Of course, he has made a mark there but who are the people who can succeed the 64-year-old? Let’s find out.

4. Roger Schmidt

An unknown to some, Schmidt is a manager to belongs to completely different host of managers in the European continent right now. Currently 48, but would turn 49 next year, or when a possibility of coming to United arises, Schmidt currently manages German giants Bayer Leverkusen and his tactically sound approach to games is something most experts love about him.

A manager who professes the gegen-pressing system, which is quite similar to that of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, Schmidt’s current side and his Red Bull Salzburg sides have exhibited signs of playing no-nonsense, crash and burn, high-energy football. The system is a one which involves pressing the opposition high up the pitch once the attacking side lose the ball when attacking, such that they win the ball in areas close to the goal.

Leverkusen have always shown the desire to keep fighting and win games at all costs, and their recent 4-3 win against VFB Stuttgart shows that and their high-intensity playing style also suggests the same. He has youngsters such as Julian Brandt, Hakan Calhanoglu, Karim Bellarabi and Wendell in the ranks and has played a vital part in nurturing them. At United, he’d have the same foundation- a set of youngsters and an experienced host of professionals too.

Schmidt is contracted to Leverkusen till 2019, but when a side such as United come calling, you can’t reject it.

3. Diego Simeone 

One of the most popular and respected managers in the world right now, there’s a lot one can say to describe Simeone, but there’s little that fit in to explain what kind of a manager he actually. He made something out of almost nothing at Atletico Madrid and that holds the key.

Simeone is a manager who places extreme emphasis on playing fast, counter attacking football that involves pressing the opposition up front at the precise time, unlike Schmidt’s sides. His sides have a knack for taking the physical route to the game and defending in blocks and breaking rapidly on the counter is a trademark of Simeone’s sides. The wingers drift in to support the central midfielders, making the pitch narrow and making it easy for them break easily and smoothly at the break.

Simeone’s exploits at Atletico Madrid are well known, ranging from their La Liga winning season to their appearance in the Champions League finals against Real Madrid. They have been a tough nut to crack, even against the bigger clubs and have a reputation for defending doggedly and scoring goals by playing free flowing football.

It’s tough to imagine Atletico Madrid without Diego Simeone, but again, it’s tough to turn Manchester United down, when they’ve entered the last phase of rebuilding.

2. Pep Guardiola

Guardiola’s desires to manage a Premier League club are more than just well documented and reports are already linking him to the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. He has made it clear that he’d jump on an opportunity to manage a Premier League club and United could be the club who he manages in the future. It’s unlikely right now that if Jose Mourinho ends up being axed at Chelsea, Pep would take charge.

Guardiola has a more than just impressive CV appended to his name, with the Champions League winners medal, the La Liga and the Bundesliga- all in there. His possession-based football, which has dominated the scenario for sometime now, has permeated into the English game too with the likes of Arsenal, formerly Swansea City and currently United themselves adhering to it, if not effectively then nominally. Guardiola’s Barcelona sides of 2009 of 2011 that won the Champions League by overcoming United themselves, have gone down in history as being the greatest sides the world has ever seen.

Guardiola’s contract at the Allianz expires in a year, with he being tight-lipped about his future, amidst contract talks. If there’s someone United want to bring in for stability, tactical nous, and continuity, Guardiola is the man.

1.Ryan Giggs

Here’s the man who everyone at and around the club seriously adores and recognizes his aspirations for the Old Trafford-based club. Someone who’s been an interim manager at United already, Giggs hasn’t had any real experience of managing a club, but he’s being backed time and time again to take charge after Louis van Gaal departs Upper Manchester next season.

Giggs is 41 and is currently the assistant manager at United and is often seen advising Louis van Gaal along the sidelines, apart from sitting beside him. Giggs deployed a 4-4-2 formation during his short stint at the helm and the two midfielders were given the license to exchange roles from deep-lying midfielders to forward thinking midfielders respectively. The wingers had more of a role to make penetrating runs on their flanks while the role of a number 10 is jettisoned

Giggs knows the club inside out and knows what is the tradition and what goes around it. And by the looks of how much backing and encouragement he’s getting from both van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson, he may end up being the next Manchester United manager.