Louis van Gaal
Tactical Analysis: Louis van Gaal’s solid return to management with the Dutch National Team against Norway
Just over seven years after the end of his last stint with the Dutch national team, Louis van Gaal was back again. This time, he was replacing Frank de Boer, who faced the sack after a disappointing Euros campaign that was riddled with tactical issues. His job was, of course, to fix those problems, and the first chance he got to show some of his work in practice came against Norway in Group G of the European Qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Heading into the match, the Netherlands were second in their group and just a point behind leaders Turkey, but with both their opponents on the night and Montenegro level on points with them, a win was imperative to keep their qualification campaign on track. The first thing we got to see was, obviously, his line-up, which saw a number of key fi...
Dutch FA opens talks with Louis van Gaal over return to national team
Louis van Gaal has moved a step closer to returning as Netherlands coach for a third time after meeting with Dutch football association officials to discuss the job, local media reported on Friday. The reports said the 69-year-old held talks at his home in Portugal on Thursday with KNVB directors Nico-Jan Hoogma and Eric Gudde, who are responsible for the choice of a new coach after Frank de Boer’s resignation. De Boer resigned after their Euro 2020 last-16 defeat to Czech Republic on June 27 and the KNVB said it would move swiftly to find a replacement, with the team set to resume their World Cup qualification campaign in September. Van Gaal, who officially retired in 2019 but stepped away from the game two years earlier after leaving Manchester United, had two previous spells at the helm...
‘Take revenge’: Dutchman makes transfer claim about Tottenham Hotspur player
Louis van Gaal has said that Ajax should sign Tottenham Hotspur central defender Jan Vertonghen in the summer transfer window, as quoted in Football.London. The former Manchester United manager has explained why Vertonghen would be a good signing for Ajax. The Belgium international central defender started his professional club football career at the Dutch club before moving to Spurs in 2012. The 33-year-old is out of contract at the North London outfit this summer, and there is no new deal in place. It seems very likely that Vertonghen will leave Tottenham on a free transfer this summer, and former Ajax boss has suggested that the Eredivisie could should bring him back. Van Gaal said about Vertonghen, as quoted in Football.London: “I am against bringing players back. When Frank ...
Louis van Gaal blames Ed Woodward for Manchester United sacking
Getty Images Louis van Gaal blames Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for his departure from the club in 2016, describing him as “the evil genius” behind his sacking. The Dutch head coach replaced David Moyes at Old Trafford in 2014 but lasted just two years in the job despite winning the FA Cup in his final game in charge. After guiding United to fourth place in the Premier League in his first season, Van Gaal saw his side slip down to fifth the following campaign as he failed to convince the club that he could turn their fortunes around. Jose Mourinho was named as Van Gaal’s successor just days after he was sacked and the Dutchman has stressed that he blames Woodward and not the Portuguese for his departure. “I blame Ed Woodward, my CEO at Manchester United, much more ...
