Louis van Gaal flirts with Bayern Munich

AZ chairman will be left with a problem if Bayern contacts Louis van Gaal again. Monday, Klinsi was sacked after ten months. The biggest club in Germany, FC Hollywood, wants an experienced coach. “We need a football professor,” Bayern manager Hoeness quipped, almost summarizing Louis’ profile in two words.

The German employer of Mark van Bommel has contacted Louis many times before. Some say three, some say four times already and all those instances Louis was just signed by either Barca, the KNVB or AZ. But last week Van Gaal admitted he longed for another stint abroad and he also specifically named Bayern as an example of a club he didn’t want to give the cold shoulder again.

The AZ champion-builder is also discussing a stint with the Belgium federation to lead the Red Devils, a job he’d like to combine with a club coach job.

With the title under his belt, it seems AZ will find it hard to stop Van Gaal flirting. Any other coach would be told that he should proud to work for the new Dutch top club but Van Gaal appears to be bigger than AZ. And he has quite a status of course: 16 big prizes and the Coach of the Year title in 2007… But still, flirting this obvious isn’t very considerate towards the players, fans and club sponsors.

Van Gaal hopes the club will be grateful for the first title in 28 years. He created a professional environment in Alkmaar and has worked for 200% for four seasons there. The coach must be convinced that the club thinks he deserves his next step and will understand his ambitions.

Van Gaal also stated last Friday that players also think about bettering themselves. Players like El Hamdaoui, De Zeeuw and Dembele are being courted by many European top clubs and will definitely make a move when the conditions are right.

AZ could play it tough of course. Van Gaal has a deal till 2010 and if Scheringa tells him they won’t allow him to move, he might have to accept that his next season will be in Alkmaar. And an interesting year too, helping AZ Alkmaar to get acquainted with the Millionaire’s Ball that is the CL.

It wouldn’t be a real punishment, since AZ will know the spotlights are on them next European season. And players like Schaars, Mendes Da Silva and Maarten Martens will use that season to present themselves fully to the European top scouts.

Apart from Bayern, Sunderland in England has already informed about Louis’ status. It seems Manchester City could be a real option and Chelsea might have the former Ajax player and coach on their shortlist, albeit below Ancelotti and Rijkaard.