Van Gaal 13-8 to land trophy in his first season

LOUIS VAN GAAL is 13-8 with Hills to make an immediate impact and win a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford after he was finally appointed Manchester United manager on Monday.

The former Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss, who leads Holland to next month's World Cup in Brazil, replaces David Moyes on a three-year contract.

He is 11-10 with Coral to see out the full term.Ryan Giggs will be his assistant after announcing his retirement from playing and there is some disagreement among bookmakers over his longer-term future at the club.

He is rated a 5-1 shot with Coral to be the next manager after Van Gaal, but Boylesports are more confident and go just 10-11.

The Dutchman's appointment ends a dismal 12 months for United in which they posted their worst Premier League placing of seventh and they have huge ground to make up on rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. 

United are 100-30 with Hills to claim more points than champions City next season, with Manuel Pellegrini's team just 1-5 to remain Manchester's top dog, while City are 2-5 to get the upper hand with bet365.

The Red Devils finished 20 points behind Liverpool and they are evens with Coral to finish above the Anfield outfit next term.Van Gaal will have no European football to contend with next season as United missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in the Premier League era.

However, he is 4-5 to guide them back into Europe's premier competition by securing a top-four spot at the first attempt.

Hills offer 210-1 that Van Gaal leads Holland to World Cup glory and United to the Premier League next season, while it's 6-1 he gets the Dutch to the semi-finals and United into the top four.

Holland, who lost in the World Cup final four years ago, face holders Spain, Chile and Australia in Group B, starting with a game against the 2010 winners in Salvador on June 13, and are 8-11 with Coral to qualify for the last 16. 

Spain are increasingly hopeful that Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa will be fit for their first game against Holland on June 13.

Costa suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Barcelona, which earned Atletico the Spanish title and there were fears he would miss next month’s extravaganza. He is 25-1 to be the tournament’s top goalscorer.

Germany manager Joachim Low was boosted by the news that captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should be fit for the finals.

Lahm suffered an ankle knock in Bayern Munich’s German Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday but is expected to join up with the squad after a week's rest. Neuer’s shoulder injury was feared to be serious but Bayern have declared him fit after he suffered a small muscle tear.