Louis van Gaal has made himself available for a return as Netherlands manager after recovering from prostate cancer, with the Dutch Football Association yet to rule out appointing him for a fourth spell.
The 74-year-old has been away from coaching for an extended period, having last worked at the 2022 World Cup. His absence from the dugout has been partly linked to his battle with cancer, but he says his health problems are now behind him.
Van Gaal is interested in returning to international management with one of the leading national teams, and the Netherlands could become his next destination if Ronald Koeman leaves his position following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup.
According to Mundo Deportivo, citing De Telegraaf, Van Gaal has put himself forward to take charge of his country once again. Should the appointment happen, it would mark his fourth period as Netherlands manager.
The possibility of another Van Gaal return has emerged as the Dutch search for alternatives. Arne Slot, the former Liverpool manager, has indicated that he would prefer to continue working in club football rather than take charge of the national side.
Other Dutch candidates are also currently committed to clubs. Peter Bosz is in charge of PSV Eindhoven, while Erik ten Hag is managing Twente, leaving Van Gaal as a prominent option if the national team decides to make a change.
Van Gaal was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. He has since recovered and is now said to be in very good health.
“Health problems are a thing of the past,” Van Gaal told De Telegraaf.
The Dutch Football Association has not yet contacted Van Gaal about the role. However, his appointment remains a possibility and has not been ruled out.
Van Gaal previously led the Netherlands across three separate spells. He guided the side to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, where they lost to Argentina on penalties, before returning for a third tenure ahead of the 2022 tournament.
His most recent spell ended after the Netherlands were eliminated by Argentina in the quarter-finals in Qatar. Since then, Van Gaal has remained away from day-to-day coaching, while also dealing with the health issue that was diagnosed during that period.
A fourth appointment would therefore represent both a return to the national team and a comeback to management after a lengthy period away. For now, no decision has been made, and the Dutch federation has yet to begin formal discussions with him.
