THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Netherlands coach
Louis van Gaal has received messages of support from his former clubs
Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich after revealing he has prostate
cancer.
اضافة اعلان
Van Gaal, 70, said on Sunday he had been receiving
treatment since being diagnosed in 2020, but still plans to lead his team at
the
World Cup in Qatar in seven months’ time.
United, where he was in charge in 2014–2016, were
among those wishing the Dutchman a speedy recovery.
“Everybody at
Manchester United is fully behind our
former manager, Louis van Gaal, in his battle against cancer. Sending you
strength and courage, Louis,” the English giants tweeted.
Barcelona, where he was twice manager and twice won
La Liga, said on Twitter: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to former Barca
manager Louis van Gaal... Stay strong, Louis, and get well soon.”
Another of his former clubs, Bayern Munich, which he
managed between 2009 and 2011, said: “
FC Bayern would like to wish former head
coach Louis van Gaal all the best as he battles cancer. We all know how strong
a person he is. Hoping for a full and speedy recovery!”
Former England striker
Gary Lineker, now a TV
presenter in Britain, also tweeted a message of support.
“Sending best wishes and hopes for a full recovery
to Louis Van Gaal,” he wrote.
Van Gaal told RTL television on Sunday that the
players in the national squad “don’t know” that he has cancer.
He said he had undergone 25 bouts of radiotherapy,
including during training camps with the national team.
“In each period during my time as manager of the
national team I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the
players finding it out until now. While thinking I was in good health, but I’m
not.”
Van Gaal, who has also managed Ajax, said in an
interview marking the upcoming release of a film about his life, entitled
LOUIS, that cancer was “part of my life”.
“I’ve been
through so much in my life, sickness and death, I’ve probably become richer as
a person because of all those experiences.”
“We do not die
of prostate cancer, in most cases. Most often, these are underlying diseases
that can be fatal in this form of cancer,” he added.
Last week, it
was announced that Van Gaal had tested positive for COVID-19. In 2021, he broke
his hip when he fell off his bike.
Van Gaal, in his
third term as head coach of the Dutch national side, sparked controversy last
month when he described the decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar
“ridiculous”, accusing
FIFA of being motivated by “money and commercial
interests”.
The Netherlands
were placed in Group A with hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in Friday’s draw.
Surprise return to Dutch job
Van Gaal returned to the
Dutch national team after the resignation of
Frank de Boer in the aftermath of the country’s last-16 exit from Euro 2020.
The no-nonsense
Van Gaal managed the Oranje between 2000–2002 and 2012–2014, when they finished
third at the World Cup in Brazil.
“Dutch football
has always been close to my heart and national coaching is in my view a key
position for the further advancement of our football. Moreover, I consider it
an honor to coach the Dutch national team,” Van Gaal said at the time of his
return.
During Van
Gaal’s first spell as manager the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2002 World
Cup in
Japan and South Korea.
He later went on
to take up a coaching job with Manchester United, but was unceremoniously axed
by the club two days after winning the FA Cup in 2016.
Van Gaal at the
time said winning the FA Cup with the Red Devils “was the greatest achievement
of my career”.
The often brash
and straight-talking Van Gaal announced his “retirement” in January 2017.
At
Barcelona, from
1997–2000, he won two league titles. He returned to the Spanish giants in 2002
but an unsuccessful stay saw him quit early the following year.
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