New Manchester United Manager- Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal began his first official day as Manchester United manager on Wednesday by being briefed by his staff, Albert Stuivenberg, Marcel Bout and Ryan Giggs, regarding which players had impressed during his absence, before the Dutchman took his first session at 5.30pm. Van Gaal introduced himself to the players individually during lunch but it is understood he is waiting for the return of many of those who are on a post-World Cup break, including Wayne Rooney, before he addresses the squad as a whole. Stuivenberg, the assistant coach, and Bout, the chief opposition scout, had led the debrief regarding the squad, with Van Gaal’s countrymen having emerged as the more prominent figures when leading training. Van Gaal landed at Manchester airport at 11.50am before being taken in a club car to Carrington. He was shown around a “buzzing” complex, including the manager’s office previously occupied by David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson. Van Gaal was unable to meet all of the club staff but at 1pm he had lunch with the first-team and youth players plus their respective coaching staffs, as he had ordered, and which will be the ongoing routine. He then posed for pictures alongside Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, and Giggs. The players had been at Carrington since 9.30am for the first of the double sessions Van Gaal has ordered, with the first of them being taken by his backroom team. After lunch the squad were told to report back for the 5.30pm session, with players free to go home or sleep on site, as Van Gaal prepared to lead them for the first time.