Louis van Gaal Ready for Return as Netherlands Coach

Dutch newspaper "De Telegraaf" has revealed that veteran coach Louis van Gaal, aged 74, is prepared to enter discussions with the Dutch Football Association, should they reach out to him regarding the national team coaching position.

According to journalist Mike Verweij, the diminishing prospects of appointing names like Arne Slot, Peter Bosz, Erik ten Hag, and Pep Guardiola for various reasons have opened the door for the possibility of Louis van Gaal returning to lead the Netherlands national team.

Louis van Gaal has previously managed the Netherlands national team in three separate stints, leading the team in 63 matches. He oversaw the squad during the World Cup finals in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022.

During their recent period with the national team, the Netherlands maintained an unbeaten record in 20 consecutive international matches.

Sources close to Van Gaal indicate that the health issues he faced are now a thing of the past, and he currently feels that he is in his best physical shape in a long time.

Louis van Gaal sees the role of national team manager as a fitting opportunity for him, as it does not require daily work on the pitch, but rather focuses primarily during international breaks.

However, a return to coaching the Netherlands is not a goal that Van Gaal is currently pursuing, as he will wait for the Dutch Football Association to make an official move before deciding on the possibility of a comeback.

Van Gaal has an additional advantage due to his good knowledge of a large number of national team players, along with his continuous following of international football and maintaining close relationships with many players from the Netherlands, which could help him take over the role quickly after Ronald Koeman.