Renowned football manager Louis van Gaal has announced his successful recovery from prostate cancer, a diagnosis he received two years ago. In an interview on the Dutch television program Humberto, the esteemed former coach of clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich shared, “It no longer concerns me. I undergo medical check-ups every few months, but everything is progressing well. I am returning to full health.”
The 73-year-old coach candidly recounted the most difficult periods of his illness, which involved multiple surgical procedures and daily discomforts. “I experienced issues with incontinence; I had to use diapers. For me, being a very meticulous and orderly person, this was truly devastating. I often appeared in public wearing dark trousers to hide any leakage. It was far from easy.” Despite these significant challenges, Van Gaal has not entirely dismissed the idea of a return to football, though he explicitly stated that he would no longer manage club teams. “I have received offers over the past two years, but I do not wish to work every single day. Being a national team coach is a different proposition: you typically work only about eight times a year.”
When questioned about the possibility of accepting a new challenge, he responded with his signature wit: “Who would recruit a 73-year-old with a history of prostate cancer? Perhaps Curaçao… but honestly, I would only consider it for national teams of the stature of England or Germany.” A playful hint, perhaps, to coaches like Tuchel and Nagelsmann?
