Wayne Rooney has sparked controversy by declaring Louis van Gaal as the manager with the finest tactical acumen he’s ever experienced, notwithstanding his illustrious tenure under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The ex-Manchester United striker predominantly plied his trade at Old Trafford under the iconic Red Devils’ helm. However, Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 saw David Moyes step in.
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Rooney later played under Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, but it’s the Dutch strategist whom he credits with the most astute tactical prowess.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast from Sky Bet, he said: “I remember Louis van Gaal when he came in – I thought tactically he was the best I’ve worked with.
“It was the stuff off the pitch that was difficult for the players in how he worked, but I remember him coming in and saying he wants his centre forward to have 15, 20 touches a game – that’s exactly what [Erling] Haaland does. I always wanted to play and enjoy the game – and score goals.”
Rooney’s bold assertion isn’t a new development. He previously lauded the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich maestro back in 2019 while representing DC United.
“Van Gaal is by far the best coach I have worked with – one hundred percent,” Rooney said. “His tactical skills, his way of preparing and his attention to the finest of details, I found amazing. I admired that in him. I had never looked at stuff like that before.”
Van Gaal replied to Rooney’s claim after and waxed lyrical about the former United skipper – but did hint at a problem between the two. Speaking with FourFourTwo, the Dutchman said: “Those things were really great to read.
“I’ve also been a very demanding coach, so if players still say those things about me, it’s particularly nice. I gave Wayne the captaincy to keep him within the team’s discipline and code of conduct, which he struggled with on occasions.
“A new period was dawning and he was one of the older players, so I thought that it could have a positive influence on him. And he was an outstanding player, of course.”
Van Gaal’s tenure at Old Trafford was relatively brief. He only remained in charge for two seasons with the Red Devils before being dismissed despite clinching the FA Cup in 2016.
Following his departure, Van Gaal took a hiatus from management for over five years until resuming his role as the Netherlands boss for the third time.
Despite leading an undefeated streak of 20 matches, he eventually stepped down after the 2022 World Cup.
