Man Utd wanted van Gaal

Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that he nearly accepted taking a role at Man Utd after Sir Alex Ferguson was set to retire in 2002. Ferguson changed his mind and seven years on is still in the Old Trafford hotseat.

It was before the World Cup of 2002," said now Bayern Munich boss Van Gaal.

"I was in contact with Manchester United through Peter Kenyon.

"It was said to me that Alex Ferguson was going to retire.

"The moment he'd go, I'd succeed him. But in the end Ferguson didn't want to quit."