LOUIS VAN GAAL has revealed that he is cancer free following a battle with aggressive prostate cancer.
The former Manchester United manager, 73, opened up about his recovery after undergoing surgery over the last few years.
Speaking on Dutch TV show Humberto, Van Gaal said: “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end.”
He added: “I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter.”
Van Gaal previously revealed that he had been battling his diagnosis in secret, keeping the news away from Netherland national team players so as not to impact their performances on the pitch when he was in charge.
He said: “I didn’t want to tell it to my players because it could have influenced their performance.
“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 healthy, but.. I am not.”
Van Gaal stepped down as the Netherlands boss in 2022 and his since held an advisory role at Ajax, who he previously led to Champions League glory in 1995.
Louis Van Gaal’s career
Here’s a look at Van Gaal’s career to date…
- 1991 – 1997: Ajax
- 1997 – 2000: Barcelona
- 2000 – 2001: Netherlands
- 2001: Netherlands U20
- 2002 – 2003: Barcelona
- 2003 – 2004: Ajax (Technical Director)
- 2005 – 2009: AZ Alkmaar
- 2009 – 2011: Bayern Munich
- 2012 – 2014: Netherlands
- 2014 – 2016: Manchester United
- 2021 – 2022: Netherlands
- 2023 – present: Ajax (Advisor)
Honours
- 1 x Champions League
- 4 x Eredivisie
- 2 x La Liga
- 1 x Bundesliga
- 1 x Uefa Cup (now Europa League)
- 2 x Uefa Supercup
- 1 x German Cup
- 1 x FA Cup
- 1 x Copa Del Rey
- 1 x Dutch Cup
- 1 x German Supercup
- 3 x Dutch Supercup
The experienced manager previously explained how his ability to coach football teams has helped him navigate his way through his illness.
He told The Athletic: “I read up on the subject. I know most men don’t die of prostate cancer, at least in 90 per cent of cases.
“Why would I be the one to die? Just as you have to manage a football team, you have to manage this disease.”
Van Gaal has had a glittering career as a manager, taking charge of huge clubs such as Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich, as well as having three stints as the Netherlands boss.
Across those jobs he has won the Champions League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Uefa Supercup and the Eredivisie.
Perhaps the only blot on an otherwise impressive CV is his two-season stint at Manchester United.
Despite leading the Red Devils to an FA Cup in 2016, Van Gaal coached fourth and fifth places Premier League campaign and was ultimately sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho.
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