Louis van Gaal officially steps down from role

Manchester United have been shaped by some of football’s most recognisable managers, with each leaving behind a different legacy at Old Trafford.

While attention is firmly on Michael Carrick and preparations for the season ahead, several former United bosses continue to make headlines elsewhere in the football world.

Many have moved into advisory or executive roles after leaving the dugout, using decades of experience to influence clubs away from the touchline.

One former Red Devils manager has been doing exactly that in recent years at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

That chapter, however, has now officially come to an end.

Louis van Gaal steps down from Ajax role

Ajax have confirmed, via their website, that Louis van Gaal has stepped down from his position as adviser to the club’s Supervisory Board after informing club officials of his decision.

The Dutchman had been serving as an external adviser on football matters since October 2023, helping guide the Amsterdam giants through a period of major structural change.

Louis van Gaal, who previously enjoyed huge success at Ajax as both a manager and technical director, explained that his decision was influenced by the departures of several key figures he had originally worked alongside.

“Michael van Praag is a friend of mine, and we worked well together at Ajax in the past.

“As chairman of the Supervisory Board at the time, he approached me in 2023, and I was happy to help both him and Ajax.”

He revealed that the club lacked enough football expertise when he first accepted the advisory role.

“There were a lot of changes in key positions, and there was too little football expertise at that time.

“As an external adviser, I was then able to play a role in filling important football positions, such as the appointments of Alex Kroes and Marijn Beuker.”

Van Gaal believes those objectives have now largely been achieved.

“During that period, more football knowledge was also brought into the organisation.

“But Michael stepped down in 2025, Alex left, and Marijn has now also departed. For me, the time has now come to step down as well.”

The announcement marks the end of another chapter in a career that has produced more than 20 domestic and international trophies and established Van Gaal as one of football’s most decorated coaches.

Manchester United supporters will remember the Dutchman for his two-year spell at Old Trafford after he was appointed manager in July 2014 following David Moyes’ departure.

Van Gaal arrived with an outstanding reputation built through successful spells at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and although his time in England divided opinion, he did deliver silverware.

He guided United to FA Cup glory in 2016, ending the club’s wait for a major trophy, but was dismissed just two days after lifting the trophy as the club opted for a different direction and a more attacking style of football.

Away from football, the 73-year-old has also overcome a personal battle after revealing three years ago that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer before confirming last year that he was cancer free.

Now, after helping Ajax through an important rebuilding phase off the pitch, another role has come to an end for one of Manchester United’s most experienced former managers.