Manchester United: Co Adriaanse claims that Louis van Gaal wants to lead Ajax youth academy

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's dream job is to spearhead the legendary Ajax youth academy, according to fellow Dutchman Co Adriaanse. The 64-year-old, who led his country to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, still has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, but fresh doubts over his future have emerged following the comprehensive 3-0 defeat to title contenders Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday (10 April).

Last month, reports originating from the Netherlands suggested Van Gaal was being courted by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to become technical director of a new centre of excellence that is set to be finished in the town of Zeist this summer. It was later claimed by the Manchester Evening News that he had spurned their advances, leading to speculation the United board had provided assurances over his position, despite constant rumour regarding the allegedly imminent appointment of Jose Mourinho.

However, it appears that there could be another reason for that alleged rejection. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), as quoted by FourFourTwo, Adriaanse said: "Van Gaal has the ambition to become head of the youth academy at Ajax. That's what he enjoys doing most and what he has been wanting to do for a decade or so."

The hugely experienced Van Gaal began his modest playing career at Ajax and later moved into coaching as assistant to Leo Beenhakker. He took the reins following his compatriot's move to Real Madrid and enjoyed an incredibly successful six-year stint, winning a plethora of silverware including three consecutive Eredivisie titles in addition to the KNVB Cup and the Uefa Cup. He was also in charge of the youthful side containing the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf and Jari Litmanen that shocked AC Milan to win the Champions League in 1995.

He eventually left for the first of two spells at Barcelona in 1997, subsequently taking charge of the national team twice as well as managing AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich. A potential return to his first club is made possible by the fact that their former head of youth, Wim Jonk, left in November 2015 after a "difference of opinion concerning the substance and functioning of the technical heart". They are yet to appoint a permanent replacement.