The best teams to have played under the legendary bosses.
It’s a clash of two managerial giants in the Premier League as Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United team host Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea at Old Trafford.
READ MORE:
Manchester United v Chelsea live streaming guide and Premier League preview.
Manchester United predicted lineup to face Chelsea.
Chelsea predicted lineup Vs Manchester United.
The two bosses have enjoyed huge amounts of success in their respective careers so far and been in charge of some of the best players in the modern game.
So in tribute of that here are the best XIs to have played under each manager.
Louis van Gaal’s XI
GK – Edwin van der Sar
Won the Champions League under van Gaal with Ajax back in 1995 and was also the No.1 choice goalkeeper for the Netherlands when the 63-year-old was in charge first time around between 2000 and 2002.
RB – Michael Reiziger
In England the right-back may be known as the guy who spent a short time at Middlesbrough, but Reiziger was ever present in several teams of the current United boss, including Ajax and FC Barcelona.
CB – Frank de Boer
The current man in charge at the Amsterdam ArenA was a real favourite of van Gaal’s, playing for three different sides under the Dutchman and with good reason – because he was brilliant.
CB – Jaap Stam
Only worked under the United manager for the national team, but this was during a real boom period for Stam who at the time was arguably the best centre-back in world football.
LM – Philipp Lahm
A more modern representative now and someone who was captain under van Gaal during his two years spent in charge of Bayern Munich between 2009 and 2011.
CM – Pep Guardiola
Modern football fans will know him as a maverick head coach, but back in the late 1990s the Spaniard skippered Barca and was a real force in central midfield.
CM – Ronald de Boer
Keeping it in the family the other de Boer twin, with the two enjoying great success under van Gaal with Ajax, at the Nou Camp and with the Dutch national team.
RM – Arjen Robben
Another player of modern times now and Robben had his career kick-started again whilst at Bayern under his fellow countryman and was also key during his second stint in charge of Holland between 2012 and this summer.
CAM – Luis Figo
Would later do the unthinkable and leave Catalonia for Real Madrid, but whilst van Gaal was in charge of Barca the Portuguese legend was impressing with them.
LM – Marc Overmars
As probably expected there is a distinct Dutch theme throughout this XI and this former Arsenal winger enjoyed success with Ajax and the national team under the Red Devils ace’s guidance.
ST – Rivaldo
Some illustrious names such as Thomas Muller didn’t make the cut in this team because van Gaal has managed some real talent over the years and this Brazilian was outstanding during his time at Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho’s XI
GK – Petr Cech
May now be out of the Blues first team, but during Mourinho’s first spell at Stamford Bridge this goalkeeper played a hugely important role between the sticks.
RB – Javier Zanetti
A true Inter Milan legend who has only recently retired from the game and Zanetti played a key part in the treble winning success at the San Siro of 2009/10.
CB – Ricardo Carvalho
Edges Sergio Ramos out of the team just because the Portuguese defender was a player Mourinho constantly called upon, managing him at FC Porto, the Bridge and then Madrid.
CB – John Terry
The 51-year-old recognised that his team in West London needed a strong spine when he first arrived in 2004 and as captain Terry provided that at the back in abundance.
LB – Ashley Cole
Played for just a little over a year for Mourinho, but as one of the best left-backs to ever grace the game this Englishman had to take the spot.
DM – Claude Makelele
Actually signed 12 months before the Portuguese coach arrived, this Frenchman would play a pivotal role in his success in England and is considered a true great of the modern game.
CM – Deco
Would later play at the Bridge as well, but it was whilst with Porto that this midfielder made the greatest impact, guiding them to Champions League glory back in 2004.
CM – Frank Lampard
If Terry was the marshal in defence then this 36-year-old was the general in midfield and Lampard was a stalwart in the successful Mourinho team of 2004 to 2007.
CAM – Wesley Sneijder
Perhaps isn’t the most gifted attacking midfielder the manager has ever coached, but for the role Sneijder played at Inter when they won Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League means the Dutchman had to be included.
ST – Didier Drogba
Mourinho helped transform this striker from a diver into one of the most deadly forwards English football has ever seen and has now re-signed him again aged 36-years-old.
ST – Cristiano Ronaldo
Saving the best until last as although the success at Madrid was perhaps the least of the lot – La Liga and Copa del Rey in three years – this 29-year-old is truly an all-time great.