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Louis van Gaal on Tottenham job: I want to work in the Premier League, so there is a chance

But he will not combine it with his current role as the Dutch national team coach

Monday 23 December 2013 10:02 GMT
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Louis van Gaal has admitted the Tottenham job interests him
Louis van Gaal has admitted the Tottenham job interests him (GETTY IMAGES)

The Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has ruled out combining the Oranje job with a role at Tottenham.

The vastly experienced Van Gaal, who has had spells at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in a glittering career, has been linked with the managerial vacancy at White Hart Lane created by Andre Villas-Boas' sacking last Monday.

But the 62-year-old hinted it is not something he would be immediately interested in.

He told Dutch broadcasters NOS: "Everyone who knows me knows I won't do two jobs at the same time."

Van Gaal's contract with the Dutch FA expires after next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil and he suggested he would then be open to a move to England.

He added: "I've always said that I want to work in the Premier League, so there's a chance.

"But I've also read that Frank de Boer and Guus Hiddink were in the picture."

Earlier Sunday, Glenn Hoddle admitted he would be interested in taking the job for a second time.

The 56-year-old sat in the White Hart Lane dugout between 2001 and 2003 and is currently without a club, having last managed at Wolves in 2006.

It remains to be seen if Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wants to give Hoddle a second chance, but he is willing to take any opportunity there may be.

Speaking on Sky Sports 1 he said: "Do I want the job? Well I've had the job there once.

"Tottenham Hotspur, you know I supported them when I was eight years of age. I went there at 12, left there at 28. Went back and managed. It's in my blood. It's in my bones.

"If I was offered the job, yes I would want to go back, even if it was for the sake of the club. (Interim manager) Tim (Sherwood) is in pole position here."

Sherwood took the side for Sunday's 3-2 win at Southampton in a caretaker capacity and also wants a permanent position with the club.

If he does not get it, though, Hoddle would be willing to take over, even on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

"If the club felt that they wanted me to go in until the end of the season even, they wanted something else long term, I would be prepared to do that because I love the club," he added.

Hoddle insists he has not been contacted by Levy, and added that he would be willing to work for the man who sacked him a decade ago.

"They've not offered me the job, so it's all speculation, it's all a bit of media hype," he said.

PA

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