The KNVB have reached an agreement for Louis van Gaal to return as coach of the Dutch national team, according to De Telegraaf.
The 69-year-old coach has been out of work since leaving Manchester United in 2016.
Louis van Gaal Agrees to Return as Netherlands Boss
Looking to Qatar World Cup After Disappointing Euro 2020
The KNVB will make this appointment with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in mind. Frank de Boer left his position with the national team after their Euro 2020 exit at the hands of the Czech Republic. The Netherlands had started the tournament looking relatively good. But for some obvious flaws, particularly on show v Ukraine, they managed to look a decent proposition in the group stages. winning 3-2 (v Ukraine), 2-0 (v Austria) and 3-0 (v North Macedonia).
However, along came the knockout stages, and with it, trouble. Matthijs de Ligt was sent off in the 52nd-minute v Czech Republic and from that moment on, they looked all at sea.
A team that had built its own confidence suddenly looked like they’d just been thrown together five minutes before the game and the result was not good.
Louis van Gaal to Return for Third Spell
Louis van Gaal is a manager with numerous successes on his CV – Seven league titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup. He is not short of honours to shout about – though none of them have been achieved with the national team, despite two spells.
His best was a third-place finish in the 2014 World Cup – a memorable one.
Following his departure in 2014, where he had already agreed to lead Manchester United following David Moyes’ dismissal, the Netherlands failed to qualify for the next two major competitions.
Having finally returned to a major tournament, to lose in the first knockout round was a major disappointment and it looks like they’ve turned to Van Gaal to change their fortunes.
Van Gaal is just what the game needs at times – a character – and a very good manager to boot.
Whether he finds it third time lucky and wins the World Cup or not, it’s sure to be an interesting ride.
Henk Fraser in Line to Follow Louis van Gaal as Netherlands Coach
Van Gaal will again work with Danny Blind and Frans Hoek as his assistants. Henk Fraser, who manages Sparta Rotterdam, has also agreed to join the staff. The hope of the KNVB is to prepare Fraser to lead the national team following the 2022 World Cup.
Louis van Gaal is no stranger to playing the nurturing role for young coaches as he did with Ryan Giggs at Manchester United, though that was a different situation given Fraser does have years of experience already.
Blind and Hoek were both part of the staff for the 2014 World Cup – where the Netherlands lost to Argentina in a semi-final penalty shootout. Hoek followed Van Gaal to Manchester United, whilst Blind ended up leading the national team, unsuccessfully, of course.
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