LVG Set For FA Cup Glory?

After winning silverware in his first seasons at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Louis van Gaal is attempting to do the same at Manchester United...

With Manchester United 12 points off the pace in the Premier League, the FA Cup presents the best opportunity for Louis van Gaal to get his hands on a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford.

United travel to Preston on Monday, with Van Gaal buoyed by the knowledge that he has achieved tangible success in debut campaigns at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Here we look at those triumphs at his previous clubs...

Ajax - UEFA Cup, 1991/92

Three years before Ajax's famous Champions League victory in 1995, Van Gaal's side lifted the UEFA Cup by beating Torino on away goals over a two-legged final.

Ajax eased through the early rounds thanks to Dennis Bergkamp's expert finishing, but faced a tough test in the semi-final against Genoa. Aron Winter's brace secured a 3-2 advantage in the away leg, before Bergkamp cancelled out Maurizio Lorio's strike in Amsterdam to set up a meeting with Torino.

The Italians' biggest threat came in the form of attacking duo Enzo Scifo and Gianluigi Lentini - who would become the most expensive footballer in the world when he joined AC Milan later that year - while they also boasted the best defensive record in Serie A.

However, after twice taking the lead in Turin - only to see Torino rescue a draw through Walter Casagrande's brace - Ajax battled to the 0-0 draw they needed in the second leg to lift the trophy.

Barcelona - Copa del Rey & La Liga, 1997/98

Following a hugely successful spell at Ajax, Barcelona beckoned for Van Gaal in 1997 as he sought a new challenge abroad.

Barca had finished two points behind champions Real Madrid in the previous campaign and were determined to reclaim the title for the first time in four years.

That ambition was outlined by a significant summer spend, with Rivaldo recruited from Deportivo La Coruna and joined by Sonny Anderson as well as AC Milan trio Christophe Dugarry, Michael Reiziger and Winston Bogarde.

Under Van Gaal's leadership, the team raced to La Liga glory and also beat Mallorca on penalties to lift the Copa del Rey.

Rivaldo was the club's top scorer in all competitions with 28 goals, but left Barcelona after a disagreement with Van Gaal when he returned in 2002, sparking a trophyless season for the Catalan giants.

Bayern Munich - DFB-Pokal & Bundesliga, 2009/10

Despite sitting in eighth place at the end of November following a slow start, Bayern's form picked up towards the end of 2009 with a nine-match winning run that propelled them into title contention.

The club were also progressing in the Champions League, thrashing Juventus 4-1 in Turin to secure second spot behind Bordeaux in the group stage before squeezing past Fiorentina on away goals in the last 16.

As the season went to the wire, Bayern continued to improve, with a 2-1 victory away to second-placed Schalke in April helping to seal Bundesliga glory.

Sadly for Van Gaal, that feat wasn't repeated in the Champions League, where Jose Mourinho's Internazionale triumphed 2-0 in the final.

A 4-0 thrashing of Werder Bremen in the DFB Pokal earned Bayern a league and cup double, however, before Van Gaal left in the following campaign.

Credit: Skysports.com