Van Gaal's pedigree

The 50-year-old Van Gaal won the 1995 European Cup

By BBC Sport Online's John Sinnott

That Manchester United have been linked with Louis van Gaal should come as no surprise.

The Dutch coach has an outstanding track record as a club manager and more importantly a record of nurturing young players through to the highest level.

But over the last two seasons as coach of the Dutch national team, Van Gaal has enjoyed rather less success.

So much so that he quit as coach of the national team at the end of November after they had failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in October.

But the advantage for United is that he is not under contract.

The former Ajax and Barcelona coach, had replaced Frank Rijkaard in July 2000 on a six-year contract.

He resigned after the Dutch came third in their group two World Cup qualifying group behind Portugal and the Republic of Ireland.

It was the first time since 1986 that the Dutch had failed to reached the World Cup finals.

That this hugely gifted Dutch side could not qualify still remains something of a mystery.

Certainly Van Gaal's time in charge was not helped by the suspension of captain Frank de Boer and midfielder Edgar Davids after they tested positive for nandrolone.

Innovative tactician

In a low-profile playing career, the 50-year-old Dutchman had played for Ajax, mostly in the reserves, Antwerp in Belgium, Telstar Beverwijk, Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar.

In 1988 he joined Ajax as assistant coach, becoming head coach of the Amsterdam club in 1991.

Van Gaal guided Ajax to three league titles as well as their first European Cup win for 22 years in 1995.

The passing and movement of that youthful Ajax side saw the Dutchman hailed as one of the great tacticians of the European game.

Kluivert played under Van Gaal at Ajax and Barca

It was a team that was made up of players like Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and Davids, players who had progressed through the ranks of the club's youth teams.

Van Gaal himself had spelt his early coaching years with the Ajax, nurturing the club's youngsters.

Van Gaal then joined Barcelona in 1997, spending difficult years at the Nou Camp before resigning in May 2000.

Although he won two Primera Liga titles, it was European success that the Catalan club hankered after.

But the Dutchman was unable to deliver that holy grail and his card was marked when Barcelona tumbled out of the European Cup semi-finals in the spring of 2000 to Valencia.