Louis van Gaal: ex-Barcelona boss to retire from coaching
The Dutch former Ajax, Barça, AZ Alkmaar, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Holland coach has said he's to call time on his career.France-Netherlands live stream online
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Ex-Barcelona, Manchester United and Holland boss Louis van Gaal has announced in an interview in the Dutch media that he intends to retire from coaching.
Van Gaal: "I don't think I'll return to coaching"
Van Gaal, who has been out of work since being fired by Manchester United soon after winning the FA Cup in May, told De Telegraaf: "I thought maybe I would stop, then I thought it'd be a sabbatical, but now I don't think I'll return to coaching."
The 65-year-old had received a big-money offer to take charge of a club in Asia, but said "family reasons" had persuaded him to call time on his career.
"So much has happened in my family," added Van Gaal, whose decision is said to have been heavily influenced by the sudden death of his son-in-law last month.
Quarter of a century in management
After spells as assistant at AZ Alkmaar and Ajax Amsterdam, Van Gaal made his name in management after replacing Leo Beenhakker at Ajax in 1991 and enjoying a successful six-year stint at the helm.
In total, his time at Ajax brought three Eredivisie titles, a Dutch Cup, three Dutch Super Cups, a Champions League, a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup.
Barcelona, Holland - and Barcelona again...
The Dutchman's feats at Ajax saw Barça come calling in 1997, and in three seasons at the Camp Nou he won a UEFA Super Cup, two LaLiga titles and one Copa del Rey.
A shortlived period in charge of Holland followed - in which the 'Oranje' failed to reach the 2002 World Cup - before a return to Los Azulgranas for the 2002/03 season.
AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich
But Van Gaal's second tenure at Barça was brief: he was sacked halfway through his first term back, with the Catalans just above the LaLiga relegation zone.
In early 2005, he took over at AZ and guided the side to the 2009 Dutch league, a triumph that led him to be hired by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, where in two seasons he lifted one title, one German Cup and one German Super Cup.
Takes Dutch to World Cup semis before final post at Man Utd
A second shot at the Holland job then yielded greater success than first time around, as he piloted his team to third at the 2014 World Cup, and was appointed by Manchester United to succeed David Moyes after the tournament.
However, Van Gaal was unable to bring the good times back at Old Trafford in the post-Fergie era and, despite his FA Cup win, was replaced by José Mourinho after finishing fifth in the Premier League in 2015/16.
