‘Levy blew his possibility!’ – Van Gaal says Spurs missed chance to employ him just before Pochettino

Louis van Gaal says he was extremely close to getting over at Tottenham in 2014 as the Dutch manager unveiled that he only finished up at Manchester United due to the fact Daniel Levy “blew the chance” by waiting around too lengthy to give him a contract.

At the time, Van Gaal was nearing the end of his time handling his native Netherlands, while Tottenham were on the hunt for a new mentor next Tim Sherwood’s tenure.

The Dutch manager was heavily joined with the job, with Van Gaal admitting that he met with Levy to focus on the career and was open to the strategy of becoming a member of Spurs.

Even so, as talks delayed, United arrived in with an give to choose around as David Moyes’ successor.

In the close, Spurs’ delay allowed Gentleman Utd to swoop for Van Gaal, whilst Tottenham finished up accomplishing just great as they hired Mauricio Pochettino that calendar year.

“Daniel Levy flew into Holland with a private jet and arrived to my household, where by we spoke for numerous hours,” Van Gaal told FourFourTwo.

“He even stayed on to view the Southampton-Spurs match later on that afternoon [which Spurs won 3-2]. He questioned for my views about that match, so that was a kind of take a look at as well.

“When Levy needed to depart in the evening, I seen there have been Television cameras outside my household. A Dutch broadcaster experienced read that he was in Holland, and guessed he would be listed here for me.

“As we preferred to maintain it tranquil, I referred to as my neighbour to ask no matter if he could acquire him absent in his car. As they did, with Levy hiding in the again seat, I opened my entrance doorway and approached the reporters to request what they were performing.

“It worked out extremely very well – they ended up taken by shock. As a coach, timing is anything! But it took Spurs a lengthy time to make a agency offer you, and United approached me in the meantime. They acted significantly more quickly.

“I also favored the idea of going there, to coach the range a single club in England – just like I experienced done just before in Holland, Spain and Germany. If Spurs had come with a concrete provide previously on, I’d have signed for them.

“Spurs had been truly a club I appreciated when I was younger, as I was a big supporter of Jimmy Greaves. I advised Levy that as properly, but he blew the possibility by waiting around so extended.”

Van Gaal went on to handle Male Utd for two seasons, profitable the FA Cup in 2015-16 ahead of being sacked times afterwards.

In the several years due to the fact his departure, Wayne Rooney has named Van Gaal “the greatest coach I have worked with” and, despite the unceremonious conclude to his tenure, the supervisor says he requires delight in owning gained the forward’s praise.

“Individuals issues were being definitely fantastic to go through,” Van Gaal said. “I have also been a really demanding mentor, so if gamers even now say those factors about me, it’s notably great.

“I gave Wayne the captaincy to keep him inside the team’s self-control and code of conduct, which he struggled with on events. A new period of time was dawning and he was a person of the older gamers, so I assumed that it could have a positive influence on him. And he was an outstanding participant, of class.”