Quinn: I missed out on Van Gaal

One of Niall Quinn’s greatest feats as Sunderland chairman was recruiting Martin O’Neill but he admitted yesterday an audacious bid to prise Louis van Gaal to Wearside wasn’t so fruitful.

It was the summer of 2009 and the Black Cats were still reeling from the fallout of Roy Keane’s mid-season exit. Whilst Ricky Spragia had finished Keane’s job by of keeping Sunderland in the Premier League, a new figurehead was needed and Quinn’s mind wandered towards the Lowlands.

“I was cheeky enough before appointing Steve Bruce to ring up Van Gaal,” explained Quinn, these days a pundit for Sky Sports and on duty tomorrow for Ireland’s friendly against Turkey.