Former Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal retires from coaching aged 67

Former Manchester United and Holland boss Louis van Gaal has announced his retirement from coaching at the age of 67.

Van Gaal has coached some of the best clubs in European football taking charge of Ajax, Bayern Munich, Barcelona twice and most recently Manchester United.

The Dutchman has also led his national team in two spells. The first saw him create history for the wrong reasons as the Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986; while his second stint saw them finish third in the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Speaking to Dutch TV show VTB, Van Gaal Said:

“I am a pensioner now. I have no ambition to be a technical director or a TV pundit.”

“My wife Truus gave up her job for me 22 years ago, and followed me when I went abroad.”

“I told her I would quit as a coach when I turned 55, but instead kept going until I was 65.”

“She is entitled to have a life with me outside of football. I can say she is very happy.”

“I think I could have worked as a technical director.”

“But in this role you can’t attend training or say anything for fear it won’t suit the coach, directors or media. I don’t think I want a job like that.”

The Amsterdam born coach started his coaching career back in 1991 at the club where he had also started as a professional footballer, AFC Ajax.

During his six years at the club, he continued the clubs dominance in the Eredivisie winning three titles back to back starting from the 1993/1994 season. He also won the KNVB Cup along with three Johan Cruyff Shields.

His time in the Netherlands also included a Europa League win in which they beat Italian side Torino on the away goals rule over two legs in 1991/1992.

That wasn’t the only European trophy that he won with de Godenzonen as they famously lifted the Champions League in the 1994/1995 season after defeating an AC Milan side 1-0 that included Paolo Maldini and Marcel Desailly. The following season they also won the UEFA Super Cup by beating Real Zaragoza over two legs.

The success in the Netherlands earned him a job with Spanish giants FC Barcelona in 1997 where he enjoyed three seasons as coach winning two La Ligas, a Supercopa de España and his second UEFA Super Cup.

He rejoined the Blaugrana after a stint as the national team coach but was unable to reproduce his success from his first spell in charge of the Catalan side. Van Gaal then joined Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2005, winning his fourth and final Eredivisie title of his career in the 2008/2009 season. The Dutchman would never return to club football in his homeland again.

Van Gaal hadn’t finished with his time at the top of club coaching though as he travelled to Bavaria to coach Bayern Munich replacing Jürgen Klinsmann as full-time Bayern manager back in 2009. He won the double in his first season in Germany, lifting the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal after beating Werder Bremen 4-0 in the final.

Only a DFL-Supercup win over Schalke 04 would follow as Van Gaal then returned to oversee the Netherlands success at the World Cup in 2014, guiding them to a third-placed finish before leaving to Manchester United later that summer.

At United, the Dutchman saw the Red Devils to fourth and fifth in his two Premier League seasons. His career with the English side ending after winning the FA Cup in what would prove be his final season as a coach.

Van Gaal leaves management with 20 accolades to his name including major honours in England, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.