Manchester United news: Danny Blind wants Louis van Gaal as Netherlands technical director

Netherlands manager Danny Blind says Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal could have a role as technical director to the Dutch football association should he lose his position at Old Trafford. Blind was part of Van Gaal's backroom team at the 2014 World Cup before taking the reins himself in 2015 following Guus Hiddink's disastrous spell in charge of the national team.

Van Gaal has previously insisted the United job will be his last in football management before retiring but Blind, father of United midfielder Daley Blind, has suggested there is a job waiting for him should he part company with the Premier League giants earlier than planned.

"With Van Gaal I could achieve a lot," Blind told Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad. "He is in the top category. But there are also many other options to think of where the shoe could fit.

"I do not know if that will happen. I recently read a comment by Bert van Oostveen [Dutch FA director] about [appointing a technical director]. But I have not spoken to him about it personally.

"The key question is: what are the pillars of the work of a technical director? I have been one myself a couple of times in my career and basically it comes down to a buying and selling policy but that is at a club, not at the Dutch FA.

"It comes to the flow of youth players. You have to offer an exciting job and it must be someone with respect. It's difficult."

United are without a win in eight games in all competition – their worst run since 1990 –and have been eliminated from the Champions League, as well as dropping to sixth in the Premier League.

Having come under considerable pressure, Van Gaal indicated after his side's 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on Boxing Day (26 December) that he could choose to resign from the post. But in a more defiant post-match interview following the stalemate with Chelsea two days later, the Dutchman insisted he sees no reason to walk away from the club.