Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: Louis van Gaal is a manager with a "huge ego"

No love lost

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that former Bayern manager Louis van Gaal tried to change the ideology of the club. In a scathing attack on the Dutchman, Rummenigge accused Van Gaal of trying to ‘Vangaalise’ the club. The former Dutch national team manager had a bittersweet two-year spell as manager of the German heavyweights from 2009 to 2011.

Rummenigge told Germany’s Spiegel magazine, “As soon as he presented his autobiography in a snobby restaurant, I knew hard times were ahead.

“Louis van Gaal was not always easy-care. He wanted to ‘Vangaalise’ our club. He has a huge ego.”

He had a brilliant start at Bayern as he won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in his first season. His team fell short of a treble as they were beaten by Mourinho’s Inter in the UEFA Champions League final that season. It was the second season when things started to go haywire as he fell out with the media spectacularly who questioned his baffling tactics.

He converted Bastian Schweinsteiger into a defensive midfielder which produced good results but tried to incorporate him in the defense as well which backfired massively. There were reports that he had lost the support of the dressing room too.

‘Pep’s a genius’

Rummenigge went on to add that Pep Guardiola is a man who respects the ideology at the club. The former Barcelona manager had a successful first season in charge after taking over from Jupp Heynckes. He has built an even stronger team this season as Bayern have a good chance of winning the treble judging by their performance until now. 

He said, “He’s (Guardiola) made Bayern a bit more professional. He’s got high expectations, but he also respects the culture of this club. He has many ideas, sometimes unusual ones, but never crazy.”