Louis van Gaal said managing Tottenham Hotspur might have been a better move for him than Manchester United.

The Dutchman took charge of the Red Devils for two years where he won the FA Cup and managed a top-four finish in the first season. He announced his retirement from football management in March after a 47-year career that began as a player at Ajax in 1972.

In an interview with BBC Sport, van Gaal feels Tottenham might have been a better destination for him in England, given the opportunity to work with young players.

“Tottenham was a better selection because Manchester United was an old team and I knew I would have to transform them,” van Gaal told BBC Sport.

“Was it the wrong choice? Maybe, but I follow my heart. I worked at the number one team in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and now also in England.

“They had seven players over 30. We spoke about that at the job interview. In my first year, we qualified for the Champions League. In my second we won the FA Cup.”

Van Gaal’s stay at Manchester United came to an end, as he was sacked shortly after beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. United had missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference to Manchester City.