by Kadeem Simmonds

Louis van Gaal has been named as the next manager of Manchester United, ending weeks of speculation.

The Premier League club  waited until the New York Stock Exchange opened at 9am EST (2pm GMT) before making the announcement. 

Van Gaal, current coach of the Holland national side, will take charge at Old Trafford after the World Cup with Ryan Giggs as his assistant.

Giggs’ has spent the past month as interim manager of the club and led United to two victories in his four games in charge.

The former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has signed a three-year contract and will become the first non-British manager to take charge at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal said: “It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League. To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud.

“I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are.

“This club has big ambitions. I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”

The vastly experienced Van Gaal was quickly identified as the club’s top target after David Moyes was sacked in April.

Moyes, dubbed the Chosen One, was handed a six-year contract following the retirement of Alex Ferguson. 

But he was fired after only 10 months due to a disastrous season which saw the 2013 champions finish seventh and fail to qualify for Europe.

Van Gaal will therefore inherit a squad that has slipped to a low ebb but he boasts a rich coaching pedigree and plenty of experience of handling big-name players.

Van Gaal’s ongoing work with the Dutch side meant discussions with the club took time, while the future of Giggs and other backroom staff was also thought to be a key topic of negotiation.

The appointment of Giggs, 40, ends speculation over the future of the club’s most decorated player who also chose to call time on his playing career yesterday.

“I am immensely proud, honoured and fortunate to have represented the biggest club in the world 963 times,” he said.

“For me, today is a new chapter filled with many emotions — immense pride, sadness, but most of all excitement towards the future.”

Goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek and assistant coach Marcel Bout will replace Chris Woods and Phil Neville who were hired by Van Gaal’s predecessor.

The 62-year-old has won three Dutch titles and the Champions League with Ajax in the 1990s before winning La Liga twice in charge of Barcelona. 

Further titles have followed back in Holland with AZ Alkmaar and then in Germany with Bayern.