It's almost five years since Louis van Gaal's reign at Manchester United came to an end, culminating in FA Cup glory at Wembley.

The Dutchman led United back into the Champions League in his first full season in charge and then followed it with domestic glory, though he was unceremoniously replaced by Jose Mourinho just two days after the triumph at the home of English football.

Despite a reign in charge lasting just two years, Van Gaal oversaw a mass exodus at Old Trafford with a total of 26 players leaving the club.
Here's a look at each of those players and where they are now...

Angel Di Maria - Signed by Van Gaal for a then British transfer record of £59.7m, the Argentine failed to succeed at United and was sold to Paris Saint-Germain just a year later for £44.3m. Still with the French champions, he has won a plethora of titles with the club and was part of the side that lost to Bayern Munich in last season's Champions League final.

Danny Welbeck - An academy graduate that originally showed such promise, Welbeck was offloaded to Arsenal to make room for Radamel Falcao in Van Gaal’s first transfer window. Despite arriving for £16m, Welbeck struggled at the Emirates - largely due to a series of serious injuries. He was released by Arsenal in 2019, signing for Watford, and then joined Brighton last summer.
 
Javier Hernandez - Javier Hernandez was a fans' favourite at United but struggled after Sir Alex Ferguson retired and was told by Van Gaal he only had a ‘one percent chance of playing’. After a loan spell at Real Madrid, Hernandez left United permanently for Bayer Leverkusen where he continued his goalscoring exploits. Now at LA Galaxy after spells at West Ham and Sevilla.

Jonny Evans - After nine years at United, academy graduate Evans left for West Brom as Van Gaal couldn’t promise him game time. This move proved a success for the Northern Ireland international as he quickly became one of the Baggies' stand-out stars and took over as captain from fellow ex-Red Darren Fletcher when the Scot left the club. Evans’ fine form was rewarded as Leicester snapped him up for a measly £3m after West Brom were relegated in 2018.

Shinji Kagawa - Kagawa was hyped when he joined United in 2012 after two impressive years at Borussia Dortmund. However, he struggled in Manchester and was sold back to Dortmund in 2014. He's never replicated the form that earned him a move to United and is now with Greek outfit PAOK following stints with Besiktas and Real Zaragoza.

Robin van Persie - The Dutchman came to United to achieve something he never managed at Arsenal - win a league title. And he didn’t have to wait long as the club claimed the Premier League in his first year at the club. Eighty-six appearances and 48 league goals later, Van Persie was sold to Fenerbahce, along with Nani, as Van Gaal brought in Anthony Martial. Van Persie is a regular pundit for BT Sport following retirement.

Nani - Once pronounced as Cristiano Ronaldo’s heir, Nani forgivably never managed to fill Ronaldo’s boots but enjoyed a decent career at Old Trafford. Was sold by Van Gaal to Fenerbahce and later accused the Dutchman of treating players ‘like kids’. Since had spells at Valencia, Lazio and boyhood club Sporting Lisbon. Now playing for Orlando City in the MLS.

Alexander Buttner - After two unfulfilling years at United, Buttner was shipped off to Dynamo Moscow, citing a lack of playing time and personal differences with Van Gaal as reasons for leaving. Buttner is not currently tied to a club after leaving MLS franchise New England Revolution.

Wilfried Zaha - Promised so much on his arrival to Manchester but was never given the opportunity to prove himself. Moved back to Palace after two years and three loan spells and is now fulfilling the potential he originally showed that convinced United to sign him. Has regularly been linked with a lucrative exit but has remained with the Eagles.

Rafael - Spent seven years at the club but never managed to cement a permanent place in the United side and was subsequently sold to Lyon. He joined Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir last year and was part of the side that stunned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in this season's Champions League group stages.

Bebe - His sale brought an end to four years of misery in the north west and truly one of the club’s oddest transfers. Never even showed a glimpse of the potential he supposedly came to the club with. Was sold to Benfica where he made one appearance in two years, and was loaned out to Cordoba and Rayo Vallecano. Then joined Eibar and spent two years there before eventually returning to Rayo Vallecano on loan and then permanently.

Michael Keane - Made only one appearance at United before being sold to Burnley in the winter transfer window after a successful loan spell at Turf Moor. Enjoyed two years of success at the club and became an England international, before being sold to Everton for £25m.

Patrice Evra - Van Gaal ended Evra's eight-year career at Old Trafford when he sold the Frenchman to Serie A champions Juventus in 2014. He spent three years in Italy before joining Marseille and then West Ham a year later. Has now retired and is a frequent pundit for Sky Sports.

Angelo Henriquez - Failed to make a single appearance at United before being sold to Dinamo Zagreb after a successful loan spell. Now at boyhood club Universidad de Chile after spending a year at Atlas.

Reece James - Another player who failed to make a single appearance at the club. Joined Wigan after leaving United but is now at Doncaster after a spell at Sunderland.

Nemanja Vidic - Joined Inter on a free transfer after his contract expired and retired 18 months after moving to Italy.

Rio Ferdinand - Spent a year at QPR after being released on a free, before retiring after their relegation. Now a BT Sport pundit.

Darren Fletcher - Joined West Brom at the end of his contract and spent two years captaining the Baggies before joining Stoke, also on a free. Since retiring he has returned to United and was recently appointed as the club's technical director.

Anderson - After his release he played for Internacional in Brazil for three years, including a loan at Coritiba. Retired in 2019 aged just 31.

Anders Lindegaard - Snapped up by West Brom after his release but failed to make an appearance at the club. Was then loaned to Preston North End, who he joined permanently, before moving to Burnley after a year. Lindegaard joined Swedish club Helsingborg in 2019.

Tom Cleverley  - Joined Everton at the end of his contract in a search of first-team football. Now at Watford.

Federico Macheda  - Currently at Panathinaikos after spells at Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Novara.

Ben Amos  - Now at Charlton after spells at Bolton, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic and Millwall.

Tom Thorpe  - Without a club after spells with Rotherham, Bradford, Bolton and ATK.

Davide Petrucci  - Currently in Italy with Serie B side Cosenza after spells at CFR Cluj, Çaykur Rizespor and Ascoli.

Vanja Milinković-Savić  - On the books at Torino.

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