Louis Van Gaal: 'As a little boy I was a fan of Tottenham Hotspur with the team of Jimmy Greaves. He was my idol. Those fantastic white shirts and Jimmy Greaves'

Published: 3 June, 2014
by GEOFFREY SAWYER

NETHERLANDS coach Louis Van Gaal has admitted he was close to becoming Spurs manager last season.

Speaking from a training camp ahead of the World Cup, he said the opportunity was on the table when Tottenham Hotspur fired Andre Villas-Boas in December. He said: "I came very close. Very close. As a little boy I was a fan of Tottenham Hotspur with the team of Jimmy Greaves. He was my idol. Those fantastic white shirts and Jimmy Greaves."

Van Gaal, however, resisted the temptation to take over at White Hart Lane and Tim Sherwood led the club for the remainder of the season. He will take up his new role as manager of Manchester United after the tournament in Brazil.