Holland, or the Netherlands has always been known for having some of the best football teams, players and coaches in modern football. Why they still haven’t won a FIFA World Cup title is still something that has baffled sports betting fans for years in and out, but if there’s one coach that has gotten them as close as Rinus Michels has, it is Louis Van Gaal. After 2 stints as head coach of the Dutch national football team, one which saw him in lowest of lows, not being able to earn a spot in the 2002 World Cup Tournament even while being considered one of the top outside favorites for the title and then again in 2014 where the Dutch were one game away from reaching the finals if it hadn’t had been for Messi’s Argentina squad, Van Gaal is coming out of his retirement to take the Dutch team coaching job for a third stint.
With the former Man United coach gearing up for another stint with the “Oranje” here is everything to know about Van Gaal’s return to the Dutch national football team.
Why Is Van Gaal Returning?
The Netherlands national football team, always considered heavy favorites in all continental and global football tournaments are once again having to go through a coaching revamping, after seeing their former manager, Frank De Boer, resign his post following a dismal elimination on the hands of the Czech national team in the last-16 phase of the recent Euro 2020 tournament. Van Gaal, who had retired from coaching to live a simple and quiet life in Portugal alongside his wife, had made it a point to ensure he would not be coming back to coaching any other teams again, instead opting for the quiet life of a pensioner in Portugal. While his words were apparently set in stone, the former Ajax, Barcelona and Man United coach always had an exception to the rule hidden under his belt in case it were to pop up, coming back to coach the Dutch national team once again.
While at first he was reluctant to take the job, especially after being snubbed out of it in favor of De Boer, who himself stepped up to replace another Dutch football legend, Barcelona’s manager Ronald Koeman, Van Gaal decided to take command of the Dutch football ship once again in hopes of leading one of the most talented yet unexperienced generation of players into the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Van Gaal will be accompanied by Danny Blind and Henk Fraser as his assistants, giving the Dutch coaching staff a complete facelift with goalkeeper’s coach Patrick Lodewijks also on his way out, leaving his job for Frans Hoek.
How Will The Netherlands Play Under Van Gaal’s Rule?
With Louis Van Gaal you are always bound to get a few but very sure attributes when it comes to coaching. Those are order, in all lines at all times, no nonsense when it comes to how games are managed and dealt with and a straight talking coach who will make sure he gets the absolute best from his players day in and day out.
Once Frank De Boer stepped down from his post as coach, the KNVB knew that this was not a time for experimenting and trying out any new coaching talents around. This time they needed experience and they needed a known winner to take over and lead the team into the latter half of the Qatar 2022 qualifying matches. They needed someone who is in touch with the environment around the national team, someone who knows about the players and the actuality of Dutch football and of course, someone who does not see mistakes happening as an option, so enter Louis Van Gaal.
Van Gaal will surely be a coach to try and bring the best out of the newer generations of players that the Dutch have been bringing up to the senior national team. Known for being one of the most successful coaches in the Netherlands when it comes to bringing up talent, players like Jurriën Timber, Ryan Gravenberch and Donyell Malen will all likely become shining stars playing for Van Gaal. While his playing style might be seen as a bit conservative and fundamentalist, you can expect Van Gaal’s Netherlands team to play some of its best football in a while.
Will The Netherlands Succeed With Van Gaal?
All signs point to a clear yes, especially when all the stars are lining up with a proven winner for a head coach and a generation of players that have a perfect mix of veteran savviness and young potential. While players like Van Dijk, Depay and Wijnaldum can all play strong roles as the experienced leaders of the team, players like De Ligt, De Vrij, De Jong, Dumfries, Ake and Promes will all be looking to become the spearheads of a new generation of a successful Dutch national football team who could very well go into Qatar 2022 as top contenders for the title.
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