Van Gaal beats cancer and sends message to the federation
The legendary 75-year-old coach is ready to take charge of the Netherlands national team for a fourth time.
The legendary 75-year-old coach is ready to take charge of the Netherlands national team for a fourth time.
The renowned Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, who at the age of 75 has successfully battled prostate cancer, has sent a direct message to the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). If they fail to find another solution for the vacant head coach position, he is willing to lead the national team once again.
Should an agreement be reached, it would mark his fourth term as head coach. Throughout his illustrious career, he led the national team to a bronze medal at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil during his second stint, further cementing his reputation as a top-tier football mind.
Great success was within reach eight years later, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, Argentina proved to be the undoing of the Netherlands once again, as they were eliminated on penalties. Van Gaal ended that spell on the bench without a single defeat in 90 minutes, guiding the team over 20 matches.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup, the coach revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis and the need for surgery. Health issues prevented him from taking charge of any club or national team in the meantime.
Nevertheless, following the Netherlands' disappointing performance at the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and the departure of Ronald Koeman from the head coach role, the veteran of Dutch benches has once again offered his services to the federation.
"I feel more ready than I did four years ago," Van Gaal told the Dutch magazine Voetbal International.
