Rooney Rates Van Gaal As His Best Ever Manager

By Max Wise

Manchester United’s record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, has rated Louis Van Gaal as the best manager he has worked with, ahead of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney has worked with some of the best managers in world football at both international and club level including Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Louis Van Gaal, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

Rooney and Ferguson spent nine years together at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2008 after the Scottish manager signed him from Everton in 2004.

Ferguson retired after leading Manchester United to their 20th Premier League title in 2013 to be replaced by David Moyes.

Moyes lasted less than a season in charge at Old Trafford before Van Gaal took over at the start of the 2014/2015 season.

Rooney and Van Gaal worked together for a two-year period at Manchester United that birthed an FA Cup success, but despite their limited time together at Old Trafford, the former England captain has credited his former boss as the best.

"Van Gaal is by far the best coach I have worked with - one hundred per cent," Rooney told The Mirror.

"His tactical skills, his way of preparing and his attention to the finest of details, I found amazing. I admired that in him. I had never looked at stuff like that before.

"Van Gaal knows that the way he works is tough for players. I made him aware of that at the time and we talked about this very well together.

"I regret how it all ended, yet I know one thing for sure - I have learnt a lot from him and I am definitely going to use those lessons for when I am a manager."