The other name Woodward has been happy to float this week, Louis van Gaal, does not meet all of those criteria. Currently the Netherlands national team coach, Van Gaal is known for his uncompromising manner, and has also won just three major trophies in his last 15 years coach – the 2009 Dutch title with AZ and a German league and cup double the following year at Bayern Munich. During that decade-and-a-half stretch, he was twice dismissed by Barcelona and failed to qualify the Netherlands for the 2002 World Cup.
United responded to a weekend report from Amsterdam that a contract had been agreed with Van Gaal by stating, “we have not signed a new manager.” It is thought that any arrangement with the Dutchman – who had also been positioning himself for the Tottenham vacancy – is not contractually binding and in effect represents an insurance policy should Ancelotti prove unattainable. United attempted to employ pre-contracts during negotiations with Ferguson's potential replacement last season.