5 top players launched by Louis Van Gaal

#4 Thomas Muller

Thomas Muller rose to fame at Bayern Munich under Van Gaal

Thomas Muller might’ve been unceremoniously dropped from the Germany national squad by boss Joachim Low recently, but a few years ago the Bayern Munich forward was one of the world’s most feared attacking players. The 2010 World Cup saw him capture the Golden Boot with 5 goals, and he added another 5 to that tally in 2014 as Germany won the famous trophy.

At Bayern Munich, Muller was equally successful – winning 7 Bundesliga titles and helping them to a UEFA Champions League victory in 2012/13. Currently in his 11th season at the club, Muller has scored 183 goals in 473 appearances for the Bavarians – and it was Louis Van Gaal who helped to launch his career a decade ago.

Muller signed his first contract for Bayern’s senior team in February 2009, but at the start of the 2009/10 season he fully expected to be sent out on loan. Instead, new boss Van Gaal showed massive faith in the 19-year-old, and he quickly embedded Muller in the first team.

And of course, Muller repaid his faith by appearing in all 34 of Bayern’s Bundesliga matches, scoring 13 goals, making 11 assists and being named as the best newcomer of the season as well as in the Bundesliga’s Team of the Season. Van Gaal famously stated that “with me, Muller will always play” – and in the Dutchman’s second and final season at the club, the youngster scored another 19 goals.

In a 2016 interview, Muller named Van Gaal as his biggest ever influence – becoming another top player to credit the legendary Dutch boss for his great successes.