Louis Van Gaal has revealed he was "very close" to being appointed Tottenham boss before the north London club swooped for Saints' Mauricio Pochettino instead.

The Dutch coach said the position at White Hart Lane did interest him prior to being appointed David Moyes' successor at Manchester United after the World Cup.

Asked how near he was to taking the job at Tottenham, Van Gaal said: "Very close, very close.

"As a little boy I was a fan of Tottenham Hotspur with the team of Jimmy Greaves when he was the champion.

"Jimmy Greaves was my idol, so I was very close."