Louis van Gaal has warned Ajax manager Erik ten Hag against taking over as the new manager of Manchester United, telling him that the Red Devils are 'a commercial club'.
Ten Hag has already been interviewed about potentially being appointed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's long-term successor and is one of the leading candidates alongside Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.
But Van Gaal, who was United boss from 2014 until 2016, warned his fellow Dutchman against taking the job.
'I think Ten Hag is a great coach,' Van Gaal said. 'A great coach is good for Man Utd.
'But, they are a commercial club. Those are difficult choices for a coach. He should choose a football club, not a commercial club.'
Van Gaal won the FA Cup in his two years as United boss but was sacked shortly before United moved to bring Jose Mourinho in as manager.
The now Holland manager worked alongside Ed Woodward as chief executive at United, who was often perceived as focusing on raising revenue off the pitch but unable to deliver success on it.
Richard Arnold took the reigns from Ed Woodward in the day-to-day running of the club on February 1 and will oversee United's appointment of a new long-term manager at Old Trafford.
Van Gaal has been critical of Woodward in the past. Talking to the BBC after his United sacking, he said: 'I can imagine Woodward chooses Mourinho. He is a top coach. He has won a lot of titles. More than me.
'What I don't like is Woodward contacting my successor, knowing in his mind he will replace me and he keeps his mouth shut for six months. Every Friday I had to go into press conferences and be asked what I thought about the rumours. What does that do to the authority of the coach?
'To win the FA Cup when, for six months, the media has a noose round my neck, is my biggest achievement.
'I spoke to Woodward the day after that game. His argument was that I was only going to be there for one more year and Mourinho would be there for three, four or five. I appreciate he hired a private plane to get me back to Portugal but his arguments were not good enough.'
Now as Holland manager, Van Gaal is preparing his side for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They meet Germany in a friendly on Tuesday night.
United, meanwhile, are sixth in the Premier League standings are four points off Arsenal, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place.
The Gunners have a game in hand on United, whose pursuit of the top four resumes at the weekend when they host Leicester at Old Trafford.
Geneve
1085
Well, I think he knows what he is saying. it's not only him but Jose and Moeys paid the same price. It is glaring enough to see that the United team has a different Vision from Liverpool and City and that's why. we are fighting to keep 5th place today. let's all admit, United board is more poisonous than those comment even I will not advise a good coach to come to us at such times.
Zeycdkpruz
521
When other are busy singing players man United are also busy singing coaches 😜😜😜😜
mrhenphlia
353
LVG might be talking out of bitterness and jealousy, but he's not far away from the truth..... Man United is not a football Club! their decision making says a lot about that!
ManUtdAmadDialo
322
What he said is NOTHING but the TRUTH, Utd is now more of a COMMERCIAL CLUB than a FOOTBALL CLUB. N to us the fans this really hurts a lot
kbw1993
181
José Mourinho only lost 4 Premier League games at Old Trafford as the Man United manager while having to play Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Smalling and Valencia at the back and Fellaini as a CDM. How the f*ck did the English media convince everyone to believe he was the problem?
cidemsuz
170
The man speaks out of bitterness and he's been like that years back. United reserves their right to hire any coach of their choice that will give them what they want. Let him call them names, Barcelona, Chelsea change their coach because they didn't give them results. Yes they're commercial and they deserve profits because they paid players huge wages every week not minding the liability ones and even the coaches were paid, so don't they deserve profits? The man behaves childish, how can you expect your employer to tell you that you will be sacked next month? Are they fools? Common , LVG should go sleep pls, if he's so a fantastic coach, when he got laid off by United where did he work? After Mourinho left United, he has .managed at least 2 other big teams in Europe.