Louis van Gaal spent happy days in Portugal and put football on hold for five years. In fact. The Dutchman swore to his wife, including on live television. His battle with prostate cancer took over his daily life. Van Gaal knows his enemy well: his first wife died of an illness at the age of 39 in 1994.
Why dive back? Maybe because the tall man (1.87m) thinks highly of Dutch football and himself. Against the United States on Saturday, December 3, the septuagenarian should lead the Oranje in a lack of flavor when he returns in August 2021 for a third term (after 2000-2001 and 2012-2014) at the helm of the Netherlands.
When his federation asks for help to take over a team eliminated in the round of 16 at Euro 2021 and badly placed in the qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup, Van Gaal. “Don’t hesitate for a second”. The pensioner understands “Save Dutch football”because he will say during the presentation, “There were no coaches available, or certainly not of my quality”.
“His problem is not that he attributes himself to God, but to God the Father”Uli Hennes, his former president at Bayern, once summed it up. However, his XXL ego does not rest on the sand. Batavian managed the best clubs, winning titles everywhere (Champions League in 1995 with Ajax Amsterdam, double Spanish champions with Barcelona, German champions with Bayern, FA Cup with Manchester United).
It is not known when he will become the head coach of Ajax, he congratulates the leaders on his choice: “Bravo, you signed the best coach in the world!” » No wonder, according to David Ent, his teammate in various youth teams at the Amsterdam club in the early 1970s. “At that time, already, everyone knows Louis side can cause some irritation”The one who will later become Ajax’s manager confides.
But this former gym teacher is clearly wrong to keep her thoughts to herself. “Everyone says it and I’ve seen it myself: Van Gaal is often right, in football or not.”Director Gertian Lasche, who spent three years sharing the daily life of Amsterdammers during filming, claims. Louis, Documentary released in April.
Golden ball on the bench
Right or wrong, there are ways to tell, and Van Gaal ignores them. “It wasn’t the easiest job in the world when I was Ajax’s press secretarylaughs David Endt. Everyone remembers his famous answer to the journalist at the press conference: “Am I too smart or are you too stupid?” Then I suggested that he put some water in the wine. Answer: “I could do that. But I don’t want to betray who I am.” Then it became a bit of a game for the media to push it as far as possible until it was removed. »
Source: Le Monde
Jason Root is a sports aficionado and a writer at Run Down Bulletin. With a passion for athletic competition and a wealth of knowledge on all things sports, he provides in-depth coverage of the biggest games and events in the world of sports.
