• Premier League

Spurs in talks with Dutch coach Van Gaal

ESPN staff
December 29, 2013
Sherwood: Replacing me would be an insult if I win trophies for Spurs


Tottenham have held talks with Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal about taking over at White Hart Lane after the World Cup, according to various reports.

The Mail on Sunday says the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has been locked in in-depth discussions about taking a senior role at the North London club, with the Mirror stating that chairman Daniel Levy is "highly impressed" with the Dutchman.

Van Gaal will leave his post as national team manager after leading the Oranje in Brazil next summer, and is believed to have already had six hours of talks with Levy - with more to come in the New Year.

Van Gaal won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2010 © Getty Images
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Spurs appointed Tim Sherwood last week on an 18-month deal and will lead the team for the rest of the season. But then Levy will have to decide if Van Gaal, 62, comes in to work alongside Sherwood or if he will take over proceedings with Sherwood moving back into the coaching role he held under Andre Villas-Boas.

Speaking to the Mirror, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit and former Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat have both backed Van Gaal to succeed in the Premier League.

Former Chelsea manager Gullit said: "Van Gaal has his own style. He is so strong and so dominant. But of all the clubs in the Premier League, Tottenham will suit him better than any other.

"Why? Because Tottenham has always been a footballing side. They have gone back to defensive football and playing with a kind of fear to lose.

"The great thing about Van Gaal is that he will not want new players. He thinks there is enough quality there. Spurs have a good squad.

"His motto is 'You can do more with that squad'. Right now they won't be able to bridge the gap on the League leaders. They have to start playing in a different style if they want to achieve things."

Advocaat added: "Tottenham is a fantastic club who are very wealthy and he can achieve what he has done elsewhere. Van Gaal is a guy who will add something in the Premier League."

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