Louis van Gaal is a Dutch former football manager and player, renowned for his illustrious career in the sport.
At the club level, he has managed a plethora of esteemed teams, including AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar, Bayern München, and Manchester United F.C., as well as having two stints in charge of the Netherlands National Football Team.
Throughout his managerial career, Van Gaal has amassed an impressive 20 major honors, solidifying his status as one of the most decorated managers in world football.
Prior to his coaching career, Van Gaal played as a midfielder for several clubs, including Royal Antwerp Football Club, Telstar, Sparta Rotterdam, AFC Ajax, and AZ Alkmaar. Notably, he is also a fully qualified physical education teacher, and worked at high schools during his semi-professional football career.
As an assistant coach, Van Gaal worked under the guidance of Leo Beenhakker at Ajax, before taking over as head coach in 1991. Under his leadership, the club secured three Eredivisie titles, the UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
Van Gaal's subsequent managerial positions included stints at FC Barcelona, where he won two league titles and one Copa del Rey, and AZ, where he claimed an Eredivisie title.
He was then appointed as the head coach of the Netherlands National Football Team, but unfortunately failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
Subsequently, Van Gaal returned to Barcelona for a brief spell, before moving to Bayern München in 2009. During his tenure, he secured the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and reached the final of the Champions League.
After his departure from Bayern München, Van Gaal returned to the Netherlands, where he led the national team to a third-place finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.
Finally, Van Gaal was appointed as the head coach of Manchester United F.C. in the summer of 2014, where he won one FA Cup before departing the club.
