After months of speculation preceded a day of countless confirmed reports, Manchester United have officially terminated the contract of manager Louis van Gaal with immediate effect.
**
“Louis van Gaal is to leave Manchester United, with immediate effect,” the statement from Man United read, per NBC Sports.
“Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: ‘I would like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries). He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given several young players the confidence to show their ability on the highest stage. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best in the future.’
A decision on a successor as manager will be announced soon.”
**
Van Gaal managed Man United for two sub-par seasons, finishing fourth and fifth on the table in his two years with the club. His final record with the club was 54W-25D-24L, for a 52.43% win rate – his worst in any stint as manager for a club or a country.
Though he navigated Man United back into the Champions League in the 2014-15 season, they were unable to get past the group stage in their 2015-16 campaign, finishing third in their group behind Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven.
Man United hired Van Gaal in 2014 following the sacking of David Moyes earlier in the year. He had led the Netherlands to a third-place finish in the 2014 FIFA World Cup just days before taking over.
Van Gaal’s final match as Man United manager was a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, claiming the prestigious trophy for the 12th time in the club’s history.
In his 25-year career as a manager, Van Gaal won seven league titles between Ajax (3), Real Madrid (3), AZ (1) and Bayern Munich (1). In the 1994-95 season with Ajax, he led the Dutch outfit to a Champions League title, defeating Milan in the ’95 Final.
**
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is expected to be named the new manager of the club this week.
Mourinho has one of the most exemplary records in club football, winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan while claiming eight league titles in stints with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid – but most recently with the Blues in the 2014-15 season. Mourinho also has four national cups, three league cups, four Super Cups and a Europa League title.
However, Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea after a frustrating start to the 2015-16 season, claiming the fewest points of any defending Premier League champion in league history through the first 18 games before being fired in mid-December.
SEE MORE:
Delay over Louis Van Gaal sacking goes on as Manchester United keep fans waiting
Man United stock on the RISE after LVG sacking
Louis van Gaal furious at Man United sacking