Van Gaal considering Germany

Bayern boss could take national team reins

By Mike Barton   Last updated: 4th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Van Gaal considering Germany

Van Gaal: Considering Germany role

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Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal has dropped a hint that he may be prepared to leave his current post to take over the Germany national team this summer.

The Amsterdam-born coach, who has previously managed Holland, has turned around the problems at Bayern since leaving AZ Alkmaar to take up the role last summer to take them back to the top of the league.

With rumours circulating of him being offered an extended contract at the Allianz Arena, his side are on a streak of 14 wins from 15 games in both the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League.

And the team are showing no sign of their poor form from earlier this season and the dressing room unrest suffered under former coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, the danger for Bayern could be that they become a victim of their own success, with the 58-year-old intimating that should he win both domestic and European crowns at the end of the season, he would look for a new challenge.

Coupled with the fact that current Germany coach Joachim Low's contract is coming to an end after this summer's World Cup, Van Gaal could emerge as a serious candidate for the position.

Challenge

"I would love to be the national team coach," Van Gaal told DSF television.

"The challenge is to become German champions and to win the Champions League in the long term.

"If we were to do both of those in my first year, then how could I improve on that?

"That would mean we are the best. I may as well give up then because I cannot improve anything."

If Van Gaal is to be victorious in his quest for major honours this season, he will have to make do without defender Martin Demichelis, who will be out for several weeks with a fractured jaw.

The tough Argentine, who has made 15 league appearances for the Bundesliga side this season, was injured in an aerial challenge with former colleague Michael Ballack in his side's 1-0 victory over Germany.

Daniel van Buyten could be back in time to take Demichelis' place for their game at Cologne on Saturday after he returned to full training.