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Van Gaal officially retires from coaching (Sport 360)
Former Bayern Munich coach Louis Van Gaal has officially retired.
Former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has called time on his football career. The 67-year-old, who won the FA Cup during his two seasons in charge at Old Trafford after arriving in 2014, announced his intention to leave football behind on Dutch television. Van Gaal’s trophy-laden career includes the 1995 Champions League title with first club Ajax as well as two La Liga crowns with Barcelona, a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich as well as two spells as Netherlands manager – who he guided to third place at the 2014 World Cup.
“I am a pensioner now. I have no ambition to be a technical director or a TV pundit,” Van Gaal told Dutch TV show VTBL. “My wife Truus gave up her job for me 22 years ago, and followed me when I went abroad. I told her I would quit as a coach when I turned 55, but instead kept going until I was 65.”
Bayern in heated competition for Bergwijn (teamTALK)
Bayern’s quest for new talent could take it to the Netherlands, but this time the rumor is not about Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt. PSV Eindhoven winger Steven Bergwijn can count Bayern and a host of other clubs including Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Inter Milan among the teams vying for his services.
Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven are reportedly braced for a summer bid for winger Steven Bergwijn amid interest from a number of top European clubs. Bergwijn, who is valued in excess of £30million, has become a key part of the PSV side which sits five points clear at the top of Eredivisie.
Now, according to a report from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, PSV are expecting bids in the summer for their star winger, with six clubs linked. Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan are all apparently interested in Bergwijn having watched him this year. It’s believed that the player’s decision to remain in the Eredivisie both last summer and in January could see PSV earn a huge amount should a bidding war take place for the 21-year-old.
Rummenigge says five teams wants Jeong (Abendzeitung)
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says that as many as five teams are interested in 19-year-old South Korean Woo-Yeong Jeong.
He has a good development, is hardworking, and is a polite, sympathetic guy who is very normal. We have to make sure that we do not pamper the young players too much, they also have to develop as a personality. I think that’s important. I think there are five clubs that are interested in Woo. We will decide in the summer how we will continue to deal with it. It is important for now that he has made a nice development, he has received call-ups in the Bundesliga and Champions League. I think that what we did in the past, (with players) such as Markus Babbel, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos or David Alaba, is still the best philosophy. With a loan or a buy-back sale, the young players can develop best.
Also according to AZ (per TransferMarketWeb), FC Augsburg is among the suitors referenced by Rummenigge.
United ramping up offer on Bayern target (The Sun)
Bayern has allegedly had some interest in Crystal Palace right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but the Bavarians are not the only team chasing the 21-year-old.
MANCHESTER UNITED are stepping up their interest in £40m-rated Crystal Palace starlet Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Red Devils have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old right-back on a number of occasions already this season. The resurgent club are looking for a replacement for Antonio Valencia, who is leaving Old Trafford this summer after ten-years.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to invest in more youth, and has been impressed with the reports back on Wan-Bissaka. Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City along with German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also keen.
Looking to catch-up on the Bundesliga action from the weekend? I’ve got you covered (The Barrel)
For a capsule-style recap of the Bundesliga’s weekend fixtures, just click here.
Gündoğan chimes in on Die Mannschaft upheaval (Münchner Merkur)
Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, whose own position on Germany’s national team might probably be under close examination, gave his feelings on last week’s news that Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, and Mats Hummels were axed from the squad.
Football player Ilkay Gündogan has taken on the dismantling of World Champions Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels. “I was very surprised, I did not expect that, and there was no sign of it,” said the Manchester City midfielder ahead of his team’s second knockout round tie against Schalke 04.
Zidane returns (Managing Madrid)
Zinedine Zidane is making his way back to Real Madrid to try and rekindle the magic that was once there.
Real Madrid officially confirmed that French coach and club legend Zinedine Zidane has returned to the club.
From a Bayern perspective, the reason this is interesting is because of the future of 27-year-old Colombian star James Rodriguez. James’ loan from Los Blancos ends in June and Bayern — and the player — will need to figure out if a long-term stay in Munich is in the cards. Considering the allegedly strained relationship between James and Zidane, it could change the game a bit.
Even with the Zidane news, Juventus is also lurking about and reportedly has a very strong interest in the midfielder.
LOL (@iMiaSanMia)
Joachim Löw will be at Allianz Arena tomorrow to watch Bayern's game against Liverpool [Bild] pic.twitter.com/TJep7aXRap
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) March 12, 2019