Louis van Gaal in retirement U-turn as former Manchester United boss insists he is only taking year out
Dutch manager had said he was quitting work but now says he is open to job offers next year
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LOUIS VAN GAAL has performed a retirement U-turn by insisting he could be tempted back into football management.
Former Manchester United boss Van Gaal said earlier this week that he was quitting to spend more time with his family.
The Dutchman's family has been hit hard by the death of his son-in-law last month and Van Gaal said the time was right to step away from the game.
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But now the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has revealed he is now considering only taking a sabbatical from the sport and would be open to returning to work later this year.
Van Gaal, speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, said: "No, no. no - I have not retired.
"I am just taking a sabbatical year and after that I will decide.
"It depends on the offers I receive, I will decide next July."
Van Gaal has been out of work since he was sacked by United at the end of last season after failing to deliver Champions League football to the club.
But he has had offers elsewhere - including late last year when he was approached to take charge at struggling La Liga club Valencia.
Van Gaal added: "I could return to Spain. Valencia offered me the manager's job around a month ago, or five weeks. I said no."
Van Gaal's controversial tenure in charge at Old Trafford has raised doubts over whether other Premier League clubs would want to attract him.
But the 65-year-old still has a big reputation across Europe and Asia and is likely to receive plenty of offers to tempt him back into the game.
