Louis van Gaal says he ready to call time on his career when his tenure at Manchester United comes to an end.
The Dutchman has had a stellar career with successful spells in charge of Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich as well as guiding the Netherlands national team to third place at last year’s World Cup.
Van Gaal, who is 63 years old, says his age and spending more time with his family are the two pressing reasons for his retirement.
He said: “I am old. This is my last job. For sure.
“I have to pay attention to my kids, my grandchildren but also to my wife. They deserve it.
“Now I cannot pay that attention. I was not at the birthday of my grandson, for example. I don’t like it.”
Van Gaal is on a three-year contract at Old Trafford and says he wants to live in Portugal so he can ‘play golf and eat fantastic food’ when he finishes in football management.
He said: “There is the beach, the very beautiful weather. I don’t want to travel.
“Everyone wants to touch my body in the airports: it is always peeping because I have an artificial hip. I am the only one who has been controlled every time when we fly. I don’t like it. It’s better to sit down in my – our – paradise.”
When asked about his successor at United the current boss said they could do worse than to promote from within the current group of players.
“We have the process of talking here,” he said. “Most of my players of my selection are open and that’s very nice.
“(Michael) Carrick is more or less a trainer-coach. He is also willing to talk about shapes and systems, which is nice. (Wayne) Rooney also.
“Not every player is very open and then you have to convince him, and then you get a struggle. It works or it doesn’t work. Give them time. Also give me time to do it.”
The 13-time Premier League winners face Liverpool at the weekend in what could be a defining match in the scramble for top four.
Main image courtesy of FIFATV via YouTube, with thanks.
