Louis van Gaal: The Biography by Maarten Meijer

Author:Maarten Meijer [Meijer, Maarten]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781473503397
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Published: 2014-07-24T00:00:00+00:00

AT BAYERN MUNICH AT LAST

‘Der Tod oder die Gladiolen.’

Louis van Gaal, quoting a Dutch saying meaning ‘Death or the gladioli’ – essentially all or nothing.

The 2001 Bundesliga title and the Champions League triumph in Milan four days later made amends for the 1999 disaster in Barcelona, when Bayern were robbed of victory by Manchester United through two stunning injury time goals. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, Bayern were reconfirmed as the team that always succeeds; both they and most of their domestic rivals became convinced that Bavarian hegemony was almost an unshakeable law of nature. ‘Mia san mia’ – we are who we are – is the club’s self-confident mantra. It celebrates ‘Bayern-ness’ as a byword for success. This sense of superiority, an unapologetic sense of entitlement and a high-pressure environment, have undoubtedly helped the club attain its special position within German football. Perhaps, though, the real power lies in others’ awareness of ‘so sind sie’, or ‘that’s how they are’, the deeply ingrained fear of deferential opponents, many of whom start the campaign dreaming only of finishing second.

A few years laters, however, and Bayern were struggling for consistency, having been managed by four different coaches in three years. Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel was named Bayern’s first-ever foreign captain, and the ever-changing side had evolved to include twice as many foreign internationals as domestic ones. By 2008–09, Bayern’s confidence was dented to such an extent that some despaired over a prolonged identity crisis at the club. ‘We are who we are’ had given way to a nervous ‘Who are we?’ under Jürgen Klinsmann’s management, and after only 300 days at the helm he was deemed surplus to requirements. Bayern was desperate to get back to basics after the failed experiment, with president Uli Hoeness eager to sign ‘a football teacher’ who would bring out the best in a team with considerable potential. And so the call went out to Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal’s self-belief seemed to be well-matched with that of Bayern’s of yore. In an interview in 2007, van Gaal had told FIFA, ‘I am who I am, and I have my own ways. I am not going to change and I have no desire to.’ He repeated his mantra when he arrived in Munich on 1 July 2009: ‘Mir san mir! We are who we are! And I am who I am: confident, dominant and honest, a workaholic, innovative, but also warm and family-friendly. That’s why I think I’ll fit in.’ He presented himself with a 13-strong management team to photographers. Then the season formally started with a little light training – ‘to get to know each other’, as van Gaal explained. He wanted to ‘write history’ with Bayern: ‘Our goal is to win titles, in the championship and the cup, and maybe, just maybe, we will win the Champions League at the end of the van Gaal period.’ He warned, however, ‘That cannot be accomplished in a month; maybe it can be done in two years.

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