Van Gaal has a reputation of being ruthless and devoid of emotions when making decisions, evident from the recent transfer of Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce in the summer transfer window. But that was the kind of personality this club needed after a disastrous 2013/14 season (as per United’s standards). The kind of managerial success that he has managed to achieve is remarkable in Spain, Netherlands and Germany and he is experienced enough to manage a big club like Manchester United.
Youngsters once trained by Van Gaal are footballing greats
A major part of Van Gaal’s managerial success revolves around honing the skills of young footballers and giving them the chance to showcase the same. Right from Xavi, Iniesta in the late 1990’s to Thomas Müller in 2009, Van Gaal has repeatedly trusted talented youngsters and has given them a fair shot at a first team spot. Whenever he joined a new club it has been a common practice to have a person familiar with the club’s ethos and its youth system as his assistant.
During his two stints at Barcelona, he handed debuts to Carlos Puyol, Victor Valdes, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Xavi and Iniesta in particular greatly admire him for believing in them and giving them a chance to play first team football. Everyone knows the impact that Xavi and Iniesta have had on world football ever since.
In his stint as Bayern Munich’s manager, his first order of business was to enquire with Herman Kerland, a member of Bayern’s staff, about promising young players in the youth system. There they identified Muller, Badstuber and Alaba as youngsters with some serious potential. But Van Gaal being Van Gaal was not convinced with Badstuber’s and Alaba’s playing positions – back then they played in full back and central midfield positions respectively.
He spoke to the youngsters and made them understand the team’s needs and their qualities and shifted them to new positions; Alaba moved to left back position and Badstuber to central defence, the positions that they have made a name for themselves in now.
Another great example of Van Gaal quickly judging a player’s qualities and his preferred position is that of Bastian Schweinsteiger. He was a winger when Van Gaal arrived at Bayern and he convinced him that his game was more suited to central midfield than on the flanks and transformed Schweinsteiger into the central midfield general that we know today. So, if there are any doubts about his trust in the next generation then let them be put to rest.
United have a history of promoting young Academy players
The one piece of evidence that is enough to stress the importance Manchester United places on nurturing its youth academy players is the astonishing record that since October 1937, United had at least one player from its youth academy in their matchday squad. United have one of the best if not the best youth academies in the world that has produced true footballing greats like Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, George Best, Denis Law, Paddy Crerand.
The famous ‘Class of 92’ was also a product of this academy. Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville of Class of 92 were permanent fixtures in the first team of United for over a decade.
Right from the onset of his managerial stint at Manchester United, Van Gaal has repeatedly emphasized the need to have youngsters ready to be a part of the senior squad. He has stayed true to his words and has handed first team debuts to many youth team players during his first season in charge at Manchester United.
Though it can be argued that most of them were because of injuries to senior squad members, these are the opportunities that have to be taken by both hands by youngsters. Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett are two such great examples who were thrust into first team action but have managed to impress the manager and are now knocking on the door for a regular first team spot.
Adnan Januzaj, who had a remarkable season under David Moyes, has seen his stock drop in Van Gaal’s first season. But Januzaj can surely be trusted to make a brilliant comeback. James Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard are other promising players who were handed debuts in late in 2013/14 and 2014/15 respectively and, going by their performances, they could be central to Manchester United’s plans in the coming years.
Goalkeeper Sam Johstone and Sean Goss are the two new young players who are accompanying the senior players on the US tour before the start of 2015/16 season. They can be rest assured that they would get their fair time in the spotlight if they manage to impress the manager on this trip.
The record of developing its youth academy players is something that Manchester United takes pride in and Louis van Gaal has shown every sign that he would keep this long streak intact.
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