Former Ajax and Barcelona forward Jari Litmanen has revealed that Louis van Gaal is the best manager he worked under during his long career.
The Finnish international was a key part of Van Gaal’s Ajax team that won the Champions League in the mid 1990s, and the Dutchman also took the forward to Barcelona with him when he took charge of the club.
The Manchester United manager recently said on Dutch radio show Langs de Lijn that he is still trying to find a player of Litmanen’s quality and indicated that he remains one of the Dutchman’s favourite players.
Van Gaal said: “I am still looking for a copy of you. I cannot give a bigger compliment to you than that.
“Jari, I thank you for who you are. I love you and wish you lots of happiness and wealth.”
relatedNewsStory
Litmanen has returned the compliment and admits that Van Gaal remains the best coach he worked under during his long career.
The Finn said: “Nice words, just in the manner of Louis.
“That’s typical Louis; I know him as he is the best coach I ever had.”
Litmanen earned 136 international caps for Finland during his career, and also had a brief spell at Liverpool, a club he joined on a free transfer from Barcelona in 2001.
He returned to Ajax for his second spell with the Dutch giants a year later.
