United will be my last job, says Van Gaal

LOUIS van Gaal says he will retire from football when his spell with Manchester United comes to an end.

Van Gaal has enjoyed a stellar career that has taken him from Holland to Spain, Germany and now England, where he is contracted with United until 2017.

The 63–year–old is enjoying his spell as United manager, but plans to walk away from football once his tenure is over as he wants to spend time with his wife Truus in their holiday home on the Algarve.

“I am old. This is my last job. For sure,” the Dutchman said.

“I have to pay attention to my kids, my grandchildren but also to my wife. They deserve it.

“Now I cannot pay that attention. I was not at the birthday of my grandson for example. I don’t like it.

“My wife wants to quit now already! Five years ago!

“I have a paradise in Portugal. I want to quit to go there, play golf, eat fantastic food.”

Van Gaal praised the United fans for the support they have given him during a mixed first year at Old Trafford.

United have played some unimaginative football at times this season, but they hammered Tottenham 3–0 last weekend to strengthen their hold on fourth place in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Sunday’s mammoth trip to fierce rivals Liverpool.

Van Gaal’s biggest signing Angel di Maria, meanwhile, is looking forward to returning to action at Anfield following his one–match suspension.

Di Maria sat out the win over Tottenham after being sent off for tugging referee Michael Oliver’s shirt in United’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.

The £59.7million midfielder knows the next four fixtures – against Brendan Rodgers’ Reds, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea will ultimately make or break United’s season.

“We are all aware that a number of big games are just around the corner, and the season will be decided by these fixtures,” Di Maria said.

“We know all about these upcoming games and we have been thinking and talking about them for quite some time now. We’ve known that everything would be at stake over this final period of the season.”

United lead Liverpool by just two points but they are also only two points shy of second–placed City.

Di Maria is optimistic about the chances of United finishing in the top four.

He added: “Everyone at the club is 100-per-cent confident, we know we want to get back into the Champions League and we’ll battle hard right to the end of the season.”