Louis van Gaal rules out Ajax return but leaves door open for national team job
Louis van Gaal has rejected suggestions of a return to Ajax but has left the door open for another national team job. The former Manchester United manager has been out of work since resigning as head coach of the Netherlands national side following their World Cup exit in December.
Ajax, meanwhile, are currently in disarray with just two wins from their first seven games of the season, while the Dutch club sacked Sven Mislintat as their director of football on Sunday evening.
Speaking on Sunday, ex-Ajax midfielder Rafael van der Vaart revealed he had lunch with Van Gaal and claimed the 72-year-old would be open to helping his former club get back on track.
‘Louis is, of course, the ideal man for Ajax. His hands are itchy,’ Van der Vaart said.
‘This club needs clarity. If anyone likes clarity, it’s Louis.
‘I would not be surprised if within the next few days they seriously consider reaching out to him. You could give him that, because he really wants the best for Ajax.’
Van Gaal rules out Ajax return
But Van Gaal, who revealed he was suffering from prostate cancer in April last year, has ruled out the prospect of managing Ajax for a second time.
‘My health comes first,’ Van Gaal told NOS.
‘I don’t like being a coach at a club anymore.’
But when asked if he would manage another national team, Van Gaal said: ‘But that depends on many factors.’
Van Gaal’s career
Van Gaal is one of the most successful managers in Dutch football history, having won the Eredivisie title with Ajax in 1994 and 1995 and the Champions League in 1995. He also won the La Liga title with Barcelona in 1998 and 1999 and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 2010.
He also had two spells as Netherlands manager, first from 2000 to 2002 and then from 2012 to 2014. He led the Dutch to the World Cup final in 2014, where they lost to Argentina in extra-time.
Van Gaal was appointed Manchester United manager in 2014 and guided them to fourth place in the Premier League and an FA Cup final appearance in his first season.
However, he was sacked in 2016 after finishing fifth in the league and missing out on Champions League qualification.
Conclusion
Louis van Gaal has ruled out a return to Ajax but has left the door open for another national team job. The former Manchester United manager has been out of work since resigning as head coach of the Netherlands national side following their World Cup exit in December.
Van Gaal is one of the most successful managers in Dutch football history and has had two spells as Netherlands manager. He also had a successful stint at Manchester United, guiding them to fourth place in the Premier League and an FA Cup final appearance in his first season.
It remains to be seen whether Van Gaal will take up another national team job or decide to call it a day on his managerial career. Either way, his legacy as one of the greatest Dutch managers of all time is secure.