Louis van Gaal, born Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal, is a Dutch former football player and manager who has had a storied career in football, both as a player and a manager. Known for his successful stints at various clubs and the Netherlands national team, Van Gaal is one of the most decorated managers in football history.
Main Milestones
Birth
8 August 1951
Louis van Gaal was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, marking the beginning of a life that would be deeply intertwined with football.
Early Football Career
1972-1973
Van Gaal started his professional football career at Ajax, though he never played for the first team. He was loaned to Royal Antwerp in Belgium, where he played under Guy Thys and was runner-up in the Belgian top division in 1974 and 1975.
Transition to Coaching
1986-1987
After playing for various clubs including Sparta Rotterdam and AZ, Van Gaal became an assistant coach at AZ in 1986, marking the start of his managerial career.
Ajax Manager
1991-1997
Van Gaal took over as head coach of Ajax in 1991, leading the club to three Eredivisie titles, the UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in 1995. This period was one of the most successful in Ajax's history.
Barcelona Manager
1997-2000
Van Gaal moved to Barcelona in 1997, winning two league titles and one Copa del Rey before leaving due to disagreements with the club's hierarchy.
Netherlands National Team Manager
2000-2001, 2012-2014, 2021-2022
Van Gaal had three spells managing the Netherlands national team, leading them to a third-place finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and to the quarterfinals in 2022.
AZ Manager
2005-2009
Van Gaal managed AZ from 2005 to 2009, winning the Eredivisie title in 2009, which was the club's second ever league championship.
Bayern Munich Manager
2009-2011
Van Gaal moved to Bayern Munich in 2009, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, and reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United Manager
2014-2016
Van Gaal managed Manchester United from 2014 to 2016, winning the FA Cup before being dismissed.
Return to Ajax as Advisor
October 2023
Van Gaal returned to Ajax as an advisor on the club's supervisory board, aiming to help the club through a turbulent period and find their way back to the top.
