It’s good news for Manchester United fans as the last time a Louis Van Gaal side finished outside of the top four they went on to win the league the next season.
Regardless of Saturdays FA Cup final result, it is rumoured that the Dutchman will be on his way out of Old Trafford following a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.
Some fans booed Van Gaal at the end of Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over Bournemouth with no participation in next year’s Champion’s League.
However, this isn’t the first time Van Gaal has finished out of the top four. It happened during tenure as AZ Alkmaar boss in the Netherlands.
In the Eredivisie, Van Gaal led the club to second-place after joining AZ in July 2005. In 2006/07, this was followed by third-place. Likewise, his third campaign in charge did not go too well.
Van Gaal announced he would be stepping down as manager after AZ slumped to 11th in the Netherlands. However after members of the team called for him to continue, he decided to stay on. This was followed by an astonishing title triumph.
AZ went on a club-record 28-game undefeated run using a counter-attacking approach. In the 28 years, they became the first team outside of the Netherlands Big Three (Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord) to win the title.
AZ registered the best defensive record with the current Manchester United keeper Sergio Romero in goal, conceding just 22 goals in 34 games. With the exception of Ajax, Mounir El Hamdaoui found the net more times than any other side.
Van Gaal said “For me, personally, this championship will be my greatest little masterpiece”
Joining Bayern Munich was the manager’s next step, where he won a league and cup in his first season.
Although a Manchester United Premier League title win in 2016/17 presently seems doubtful, Van Gaal is hopeful that the club’s board and fans will give him the chance to pull off another “masterpiece”.
