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You're a Dutch celebrity, right? - Yes.

But I do like you.

You do?

I am likable. - Different than on TV.

You think so? - Yes.

On TV, other people present a certain image

of you, and you can't do anything about it.

That's the image you see.

In reality I'm different. I'm not as bad as that.

That's the stupid media.

It's the stupid media. I guess you've seen me talking about them.

The defeat by Ireland was my lowest point.

It was? Are you a fan of the Dutch national team?

We cried at home when that happened. - You cried?

It's always about the execution.

I'm also a good player. - What position?

Defence. - Right back? Left back?

Right back.

When the left back plays the ball to you...

...I want you to receive the ball ready to pass it on.

I'll show you what I mean.

You can receive the ball like this...

...or like this, already looking ahead of you.

Do you know what I mean? Ready to pass the ball on.

I think you are a very good coach.

Rinus Michels, you may not know him...

...was very important... - The General.

That's right. A big name in Dutch football.

Cruyff is the best, isn't he? - Cruyff?

He definitely isn't the best. - No?

As a player, but not as a coach. - So who is the best coach?

In terms of results, it's me. I won the most prizes.

Ajax have just touched down...

...with the club's fourth European Cup...

...which as you all know they won yesterday...

...with a goal scored by Patrick Kluivert in the 86th minute.

It was the 100th match Ajax have won in the competition.

What a shot!

Look where it landed!

Exactly where I said it would land.

In front of the bunker. My word!

Great shot. Really great.

Film the spot where it landed for me.

Everything I do is just fantastic.

Look, I know I'm not the easiest person in the world to deal with.

It's not that hard for me to see this self-image.

But if I have made mistakes...

...I've done so in the conviction that they weren't mistakes.

Incredible.

And if I've made mistakes, I regret making them.

And if it was a personal thing, I would always apologize.

I've always acted in the interest of the purpose...

...for which I was on this earth at that particular time.

In football, you have to have focus too.

And I tried to achieve that by travelling in

the same bus, wearing the same clothes, etc.

It's Truus, spoiling me again.

Hello.

You've got a nice tan. - Yes.

I'm waiting here out in the sunshine.

Lovely.

I'm spoiling him again. - Look, traditional almond cakes.

Dutch almond cakes. - Here in Portugal.

Anyway... Truus does miss a social life out here.

Compared to her life in the Netherlands.

But her joints are giving her far less trouble

here because of the favourable climate.

And it's only now...

...that I've retired, that I can enjoy life here.

Now don't put any pictures of me touching my nose in the papers tomorrow.

I touch my nose and I see your flashlights.

I'm saying this explicitly...

...so people at home can see...

...that a picture of me touching my nose, however briefly, will be in the media...

...to illustrate a certain tendency.

You've seen it now. I've explained it to you. This is the way it works.

Now I need to get back to my story.

Would you be able to do my job, Louis?

No.

The only camera work I do...

...is when they ask me to record a message for a good cause...

...or for a birthday or a friend or someone's finals, things like that.

Then I record my own messages.

That's my only camera work, Geertjan.

What a putt!

But my job really is to try and understand people.

That's your job too.

Yes, that's my job too.

And my job is also to move them in a certain direction...

...in the interest of the team, as that is the most important thing.

Football is a team sport, not an individual sport.

And that's why you're a leader and I'm a documentary maker?

Okay, beautiful.

Would you ever want to coach again?

I don't think so.

But you can never exclude this possibility.

But I've chosen to finish my career...

...so it has to be a very good temptation.

And also something I have not done before.

Ajax, the Dutch national team, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Manchester United.

What can you expect more?

Perhaps the media are the reason you're so sharp.

No, I'm always sharp. Truus says so, and so do my daughters.

I think I'm always sharp. It's one of my qualities.

It scares people too, right?

Well, that's what they say.

But...

...I put people at ease too.

Didn't I put you at ease about filming me?

You did.

Come and sit down.

Mr. Van Gaal, can I ask you a question?

It seems the Dutch sports press have sent you a letter.

They feel you don't treat the journalists with enough respect.

Well, what can I say?

They think you tend to treat them with contempt.

With contempt, even?

They think it's unacceptable.

I'd like to read the letter first...

...but I don't think I treat journalists with contempt. It's just...

You got pretty worked up last Saturday.

I treated the question with contempt, not the journalist asking it.

And you think that's necessary?

If I didn't, I wouldn't have done it.

I'm generally quite convinced in his matter.

But what if the sports press have had enough of it?

That's up to them.

You don't care either way?

It's a shame...

...but they might want to raise the level of sports journalism.

Then I might react differently.

When did the thought first occur to you...

...that you might have the makings of a coach?

When I was only 15.

When I watched Michels.

It sounds unbelievable...

...but I have to say it's the truth.

I have always...

Michels was my idol, my icon.

I've basically copied Rinus Michels' career.

Like him, I trained to be a PE teacher.

What do you admire about him?

He added structure to the organisation of football...

...so others could benefit from it.

To me, he was the standard bearer of Dutch football.

He was also a PE teacher.

I saw a man who had a way of motivating people.

He was very demanding and grumpy, really.

But everyone listened to him.

You can do that.

You can keep the ball at your feet and go past anyone.

Stay focused all the time. Any lapse in concentration could be fatal.

You too were grumpy and demanding.

I'm not that grumpy, really.

I do think I'm more demanding than Michels was.

I'd like one picture without the book.

But I'm not grumpy, I'm an optimistic character.

I take a positive view of life.

What passage from the book would you like people to remember?

If you read the book, you get to know Louis van Gaal, the man...

...behind the poker-faced coach.

But there isn't one thing you'd like people to associate you with?

How would you describe yourself as a human being?

I'm still the same person I was 30 years ago...

...at the press conference announcing me as the new Ajax coach:

Honest, straight and consistent.

I think these are core values in life.

Yesterday on TV, they went on again about how it was always about you, and so on.

Did you watch it and what do you think of it?

I didn't watch it...

...but I think it's remarkable that you should ask me about this.

Okay, well...

But it grates to ask me a question like that, which is why you do it.

Well... - It's a pity.

When it's the Dutch national team, Truus watches the match with me upstairs...

...but this is my "football den".

The world titles. These are my Dutch awards.

My Dutch oeuvre prize, a nice present.

And here's my idol: Rinus Michels.

I won three Rinus Michels Awards...

...for Coach of the Year in Dutch football.

I won Coach of the Year in Germany too.

Bayern Munich, I won a lot there.

These are from Barcelona.

They're big names in world football.

People often say that any dud can win prizes with clubs like that.

But it's not like that.

Which prize would you like to add to the collection?

A prize with the Dutch national team.

I've already got a bronze medal, it should be here somewhere.

No.

The first time I failed, but the second time we won bronze.

Which is not bad.

I got this for coaching over a hundred Champions League games.

This is an award I won as a player.

I wasn't a top-class player...

...but I was chosen by De Telegraaf newspaper...

...as second best player of the season in the Dutch league.

And who was the best player?

I know the answer. - Johan Cruyff.

Let's move on. This is quite enough.

All these prizes and self-glorification.

I think Louis' honesty is also his Achilles heel.

Instead of people being grateful for your honesty...

...it works against you.

I made the conscious decision to always be honest...

...and give straight answers.

To look people in the eye and not say things behinds their backs.

I think that's one of the best aspects...

...of the upbringing I got from my parents and siblings.

They were all older than me, so they educated me too.

What you're saying is:

I've chosen to talk straight, not circuitously.

Yes.

That was a conscious decision.

But it creates a lot of resistance.

I know this, and I try to explain it to the children and to Truus.

It's too bad.

But you know what you're getting, what he wants and doesn't want.

At least he's smiling a little now.

The one at the front is yours. Would you like a snack?

I think you're often right.

But being right can be a burden.

I've never experienced it that way, I have to say.

I also think I'm often right. Not always, but...

...in matters of football, I'm usually right.

It's true.

It can be annoying sometimes.

He's often right, very often.

But occasionally I'm right.

A lovely cup of coffee.

It's an exciting relationship. Every day brings something new.

On the one hand I know where I am with him...

...but on the other hand he can still surprise me.

Where were you born? - In Amsterdam.

So was I. - Yes.

What part of Amsterdam?

East. We lived at Galileiplantsoen. - Right.

In the Watergraafsmeer area. - Yes.

Near the old Ajax stadium. - Yes.

I was the 8th child to be born. - I was the 9th.

So were you the youngest child?

I was. - So was I.

And are they all still around? - No.

No, our family has weak genes.

There's only three of us left. - Oh, dear.

How are you? - I'm fine, actually.

It's not that hard to be doing fine.

That's because we're able to lead a wonderful life now.

Without any pressure, without worries.

And that's a great feeling.

That there are no obligations.

I can choose to do things.

Are you really retired now?

If Ajax, Barça or Bayern are on the phone, you turn them down?

Yes, as long as I'm with Truus. - Without exception?

I'm concerned with our future together, Truus' and mine.

I've bought penthouses in three different countries.

So we can grow old.

It's what I always used to do as a coach:

See what you can do together.

This button is wrong, Truus.

It's on the inside.

That's the idea.

The facing conceals the buttons. It's quite a tight fit, though.

When Louis had been to my place just once or twice...

...he called me out of the blue and said: Can I come to dinner?

I'm going to roll it around your waist.

So we had dinner, glass of wine, and then he said:

I've got some things for you to consider carefully...

...to make sure our relationship has a chance of success.

"Do you want to have children?"

I had to work hard not to laugh, so I said:

"Well, it's not my top priority."

"I was married for some years and they never came."

"So I threw myself into my job, a top job, as you know."

"You can't miss what you never had."

Then he said: "As you just said, you've got a top job."

"But my ambition lies abroad."

"And I wouldn't want to do it alone."

"I'd love for you to come with me."

"Take your time to consider all this."

"If you're not prepared to give up your job..."

"...we should end this relationship now." All really straightforward.

He calls a spade a spade.

Step, stick. Step, stick.

Also to honour the president of Rwanda...

Ma... Makame? - Kagame.

Kagame. - You can say Mister Paul.

Mister Paul. - Kagame.

Kagame, G. Ka-ga... Like Van Gaal.

Yes. Kagame. - Yes.

...the president of Rwanda, Kagame...

...because of his leadership in changing behaviour.

Thank you very much.

You look like a king. - Yes, here comes the king.

What was going on in Rwanda with these gorillas?

Nice picture, eh? - Yes. Tell us what's happening here.

I was chosen to name a gorilla.

It was to promote the country of Rwanda, really.

We won, in 1994/5...

...with Ajax Amsterdam...

...the Champions League and the World Cup.

And at the same time I could see...

...on Dutch television...

...what was happening in Rwanda.

Terrible.

And as a coach...

...I know it is very difficult to exert influence...

...on human behaviour.

Do you take lots of pictures on your travels?

Yes, and then I put some music under the images, as I love music.

You do that yourself? - I do.

So you're at your PC and you call Truus over to have a look.

What's the gorilla called?

I chose the name Ingogozi.

It stands for "leader".

But I also honour...

...and thank the president of Rwanda, Kagame...

...for his leadership in this process...

...of changing human behaviour.

He may be a dictator, but he was a dictator at the right time.

I'm sure of it.

What these people have achieved in those 25 years...

...is a hugely positive development.

I had a great childhood.

I did well at school.

I did well on the football pitch.

I organized games in the street.

We became champions of Amsterdam.

Then Ajax came for me.

Until I began training to be a PE teacher I'd had no setbacks at all...

...apart from the death of my father.

What was your father like?

Well, he was also very disciplined.

Very honest.

Straightforward, and sometimes quite tough.

But I didn't know him long enough.

At the age I was...

...you don't get to know your father very well.

Good morning.

I'm Louis van Gaal and this is my brother Gérard.

We used to call this the vestibule, so it would feel a bit wider.

And we could pass through here.

And my dad used to sit there.

My dad over there and my mum over here.

I entered the room through another door...

...and I'd sit behind my dad's chair...

...to watch a popular quiz show.

It was on Sunday nights and I was supposed to be in bed.

And my mum would see me, but didn't say anything.

But if my dad saw me, he sent me back upstairs.

It was like a game.

He must have spent a lot of time there. - Yes.

I'm assuming he sat for many hours towards the end.

Yes, but also upstairs in bed. - In bed, yes.

The bed was over there too for a while. - Yes.

I think my dad fell ill when I was six years old.

Because of his illness, he wasn't always the happy dad.

He had a special diet due to his heart problems.

I saw all of that, the different food he had to eat.

He always looked serious.

When my dad spoke, everyone else kept their mouth shut.

Including you?

Legend has it that I was rather impertinent.

Right?

Yes, you weren't afraid to talk back to your dad.

It was accepted because you were the youngest.

I was in the last year of primary school when my dad died.

It was a Saturday.

It was my dad's 53rd birthday.

So...

The headmaster came and got me from the classroom.

He told me my father had passed away.

And I should go home.

That was it.

We all went to the hospital.

My mother, of course, and a number of our siblings.

Even some aunts and uncles.

I was very, very sad.

To Gérard, our father was most important, and to me it was our mother.

That's the difference two or three years can make.

Did you console your mum?

Yes, I was forced to sleep in my mum's bed after my dad passed away.

It wasn't much fun for me.

For how long?

Less than a year, where my dad used to sleep.

This was my mum and dad's bedroom.

My mum slept on the left, my dad on the right, so I slept over there.

Next to your mother.

Usually I was asleep by the time she went to bed...

...but when your mum is grieving, you can't help but wake up.

Pretty tough, looking back, wasn't it?

Maybe, but I didn't experience it like that.

Maybe that is why I show my emotions to my fellow human beings.

Because I experienced this early on in my life. I don't know.

Look: Wladimir.

He was my guru when we were training to be PE teachers. He was my example.

Wladimir was like a young god.

He's still got the broad chest, the well-developed muscles.

He was the best-looking guy in our class.

Anatomy lesson.

Look, there's Wladimir!

He undresses in front of the class. Look at that body.

I was asked to come forward.

Everyone remembers this, Wla. Everyone.

What a moron!

I think he's a good-looking guy. - This was another era.

Most of our classmates were at least 21 or 22 years old.

I was 16, a real greenhorn.

It was the best time of my life.

I grew as a human being there.

And I developed my vision there.

The "total man principle". - Yes.

It was quite innovative.

I already applied it at Ajax in the 1992/3 season.

Are you sporting a beard there? - Yes.

Yes, because I thought I had a baby face, which needed a bit of furnishing.

I concerned myself with that kind of thing.

Then I noticed young women in the making.

A nice discovery, wasn't it. - Yes.

The hormones were there after all.

Yes, mate...

And you were my example in that, too.

Here Louis has overplayed his hand.

He thought he could joke around with me.

When you say a lot of things, as I did, you meet with a lot of resistance.

But it is because of your own big mouth.

On the streets it was accepted.

But it wasn't at PE training college, because there, it's about arguments.

Didn't I start by saying I have to defend Ajax's interests?

Didn't I start by saying we have agreements with players?

So why do you ask this question?

Am I that smart or are you that stupid?

I have an agreement with these players.

Who gives anyone the right to talk about these players when they don't want that?

I explained it neatly, didn't I?

Now you're going to call me an arrogant bastard again.

But these are stupid questions. Both Chris' and yours.

Was your anger always real? - Yes.

This is a stupid question.

Now that you've got to know me a little...

...you ought to know that I never pretend to be angry.

I get angry because I think something was impertinent or...

...or because I get emotional.

That's usually the reason for my anger.

I don't act being angry.

But I get angry quickly because I'm impatient.

It's a weakness of mine.

This is ridiculous. Nine against eight, but still the yellow side wins.

Good morning. - Good morning, Louis.

How long do memories last?

How long will you be remembered?

Well, I guess pretty long...

...because I haven't been short on success.

So what do you think?

As long as no other Dutch club wins the Champions League...

...I will be remembered.

If another Dutch club does win it, I will be in second place.

That's only natural, and the way it should be.

You look well, healthy. - Sure.

Or don't you believe me? - Of course I do.

Thanks for your bouquet of flowers. - Happy birthday.

This will be the 70th year of my life, and I think it will be a wonderful year.

Louis, we're going to meet Edgar.

Is Edgar here? - No, he's on his way.

Being on time is his problem.

He was my pit bull.

A pet name for a defensive midfielder...

...but he could also score and assist goals.

So he was more than just a pit bull.

Ajax plays the attractive football...

...and Davids might put the icing on the cake here.

It's 5-0 and Edgar Davids has his third goal.

All the players are rushing to Louis van Gaal now.

There's Edgar, in the smallest car.

Good morning. - Good morning.

Look at that. Cool, isn’t it?

Good morning, coach.

You were almost on time.

We should embrace and everything...

I usually wear a face mask. - Do you?

But you thought, I have to talk to Van Gaal. - As always.

Or rather, listen. - Listen? No, you have to talk.

Do you have a soft spot for hard workers and clear thinkers?

For hard workers, of course.

But I didn't just look at footballing qualities, I also looked at perception.

Did they choose a logical solution?

How many of their passes were successful?

And then you start the journey together? - That's right.

I'm curious to hear...

For I even played Edgar...

...at the expense of Bryan Roy.

Remember? - Absolutely.

When Bryan Roy was the national poster boy.

Bryan Roy was much more elegant...

...but Edgar knew how to play in the interest of the team.

To me, that's always been paramount.

Roy, free as a bird.

And so he tries this.

What a phenomenal goal! You've got to be

brilliant if you can do something like this.

Within half an hour, Roy is being replaced by Davids.

It's rather quick...

...and rather clear.

It wasn't easy for me...

...as some people in the media had it in for the coach...

...for making this choice. And I was in the middle.

But it was important.

The coach created a certain atmosphere...

...and a sense of security...

...which meant we could concentrate on playing football.

Did you realize you put a huge amount of pressure on Edgar Davids?

I did, but you can never...

...know beforehand if a player can deal with that.

It's only now that Edgar tells me it was quite a big thing for him.

Which stands to reason.

If I replace the fans' idol by Edgar...

...then in a way he's the victim of the choice made by the coach.

That's what I'm hearing.

But it was also a step up in his career.

I didn't see myself as a victim.

I already felt the pressure as I wanted to play at the highest level.

And as I see it, you have to repay people.

So I just went for it.

Are you saying you wanted to perform for Louis too?

I wasn't going to let him down.

The smile must look natural.

Where I come from, it's a chance.

He makes his choice and it's up to me to show his choice was justified.

You can see at once if it looks natural.

Apart from my father, the coach has had a very positive influence...

...on my achievements and on me as a person.

You know how to do this.

Thank you, coach. - Thank you.

Here's the best coach in the whole world: Louis van Gaal.

And what did Ajax win?

The World Cup!

The World Cup!

And what are we?

We are the best!

We are the best!

Not just in Amsterdam.

Also in Rotterdam.

And also in Eindhoven.

And also in Europe.

And so we are the best in the... - World!

But tomorrow...

Calm down now.

Calm down. But tomorrow...

...we're back to being Ajax...

...trying our best to become Dutch champions.

It's great to see all this enthusiasm.

Will the party continue tonight? - No.

We've got another game on Sunday.

No one wants to hear this now, but it's the naked truth.

So we're going home. But this encourages us to play well on Sunday.

Thanks. Congratulations. - Thank you.

My office is about football, but also about family.

My first wife and a candle by her portrait.

We were married for twelve and a half years.

This is my family when most of them were still around.

These are my grandchildren.

This is one of my daughters...

...and here's the other one.

This is Truus and me. My mum and dad.

My upbringing was very important to me.

But then...

...Fernanda was also very important to me.

A colour TV. I don't know what to say.

The same goes for Fernanda and the kids.

I think it's wonderful that we still come together on this day...

...to remember their mother, my wife.

I think this was mum's one and only interview.

I think so too.

1993. She was already ill by then. - Yes.

But we didn't know yet it was cancer.

She never showed she was in pain.

But by November it had become clear.

And she passed away on January 17th.

Pancreatic cancer, there is still no cure for it.

I also coached a football team during this period.

Fernanda and I agreed in principle that I would go on coaching.

So I went to the hospital every day.

In the evening I picked up my daughters to go to the hospital...

...then back to Avenhorn.

But it was really hard for them.

Did your dad need football when your mum was ill?

I wouldn't say he needed football.

I think it's more to do with a sense of duty than a need.

"It's my job, I have to do it, I'm in charge there."

And we all said, "Go for it". - Yes.

Including my mother. She was always, like, "Keep going".

Not being able to say goodbye.

That has troubled both Renate and Brenda and myself.

You wouldn't want to wish that on anyone.

Ajax's line-up tells us that Louis van Gaal doesn't like change.

It's unchanged from before the winter break.

On the day she got worse...

...I still went to Ajax, as that was important to me.

What a goal by Frank Rijkaard!

And what a great lay-off by Ronald de Boer. Excellent!

The first thing Fernanda said was: "Did you win the game?"

Which was only normal, as I had just come from the stadium.

That's what we talked about, but she was also in pain.

So I asked for painkillers to be given to her...

...but they made her fall into a coma...

...and then it went from bad to worse.

That's how it happened.

So I know from experience how hard it is...

...to say goodbye to someone you love, and...

Not being able to do that.

That really hurt him.

He sat up with her all night...

...and just when he closed his eyes for a moment, my mum passed away.

Yes. When her breathing returned to normal...

...he fell asleep, thinking it was good and she was asleep.

What does he say here?

"God, I love you so much."

In the present tense.

It's also a cry of despair.

Or an ultimate profession of love.

The latter, I think. - The latter.

He was crazy about my mother.

About our mother. We all were. - Yes.

She was just a very sweet lady.

And a nice card of thanks.

He spent hours in that little room in Avenhorn...

...writing hundreds of thank-you cards, all with a personal touch.

There were a lot of them. - Yes.

Every human being goes through difficult moments in life.

You don't always have influence on them.

You and I have only had nice moments together.

No, sad moments too. Acquaintances passing away.

That's part of life, in my opinion.

Louis. - Hello.

But I want to die in the way I think one should die.

By saying goodbye to each other properly.

I wasn't able to do that with Fernanda...

...so I hope to be able to do that with Truus.

And with my children and grandchildren.

That's important to me.

What? - Nothing.

Louis finds it easier to talk about it than I do.

I've seen it so many times. - So have I. But I always find it difficult.

A coaching career is also based on experience.

I've seen so much in coaching too.

Both the disappointments and the joys.

So you learn to accept things.

It's easy to put it on paper and express it...

...but it's different when the time actually comes.

I think. - Would you be able to do it?

Yes, because I promised him.

If he were to fall into such a state of poor health...

...I would have to honour his wish.

But it would be hard.

The thought crosses your mind sometimes? - Yes, I've got no one else.

I have no children of my own. Of course there are Louis' children...

...but in the end Louis means everything to me.

Van Gaal.

Yes, it's 1-1. Well deserved.

For Louis van Gaal in particular, who's had a great game.

Sparta deserve more than a defeat tonight.

Three minutes before the final whistle, Louis van Gaal has equalized for Sparta.

I remember he arrived in a sports car.

A Honda Prelude, that was a groovy little machine.

You knew it was Mr. Van Gaal arriving.

Then there'd be a short silence.

He'd go to the staff room and we could hang around outside for a bit longer.

Saïd here was good at everything.

I was their PE teacher and he was by far the best pupil.

Athletic.

He was good at every sport. They always picked him first for any team.

He was strict, disciplined, demanding...

...as a PE teacher.

Gymnastics, basketball or football...

...he always gave you the right pointer, which was great.

Even if some of them were halfway criminal...

...they were still honest. At least to me they were.

But they did things that were illegal.

Such as?

Usually it was shoplifting, that kind of stuff.

It was a tough class, a tough school.

Some teachers looked away, but he called you to account about your conduct.

That had an impact on us.

I gave them my wallet to go and get a sandwich or an ice cream.

Without any problems. I mean...

I enjoyed the fact that they were so direct and honest.

It wasn't easy, but I could manage it.

And in that case, honesty and directness are great things to work with.

Your way of teaching...

...and the way you dealt with all the pupils with deviant behaviour...

...uniting us as a complex group...

...as well as motivating individuals, I've always remembered that.

And secretly I told myself: This is the kind of teacher I want to be.

So that's how I've used the experience. - That's nice to hear.

And now you're head of the Ajax youth academy.

There's an idea behind everything.

Look, I can roll around on this. It's really handy.

You may think I'm a dickhead...

...but I think of everything. Everything has to be easy.

Look at this trolley.

You don't think I'm going to lug this, do you?

I'll move into the light so you can see the shirt is signed.

Got to love this.

Figo, Rivaldo or any other player.

It's all in these notebooks.

Someday I'm going to reread them all.

Nice occupation for an old man.

But not for the foreseeable future.

Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal, 46 years old, born in Amsterdam.

Former PE teacher and professional footballer.

Currently technical director at FC Barcelona.

Before that, he led Ajax...

...to the Dutch, European and world championships.

The stadium is over here.

The small stadium and the big Camp Nou.

Tennis courts, swimming pools, gym.

My offices used to look like this too. Small rooms.

No aircon, so I'm having that installed too.

Sometimes people get fed-up, and rightly so...

...of me always telling them it's a process...

...and it takes more time before everyone is on board.

Delicious.

But when it takes too long and it disrupts the team building process...

...I take action.

Figo, trying to find space for the shot.

What a goal from Luis Figo, such a key player in Louis van Gaal's system.

Luis Figo. - Mister!

Well-dressed.

You're painting your hair or something?

Good to see you. - Yes.

How are you? - I'm fine.

Very good to see you. You look younger. - Younger than in Barcelona.

Is it because of the place you are?

You are, I want to say it to you...

...you are the best player I ever worked with.

Thank you.

Not only because of your football talents, technical and tactical...

...but also as a human being. In spirit.

A player with your talents, behaving himself...

...as a normal human being.

Do you understand what I'm saying? - Yes, I'm thankful for your words.

Normally, these stars...

...because you were a star for me...

You know, you have the vision, and more than a vision.

I knew the person you are. I knew that you are...

...honest and you take care of feelings.

But you have your rules.

If everyone had to be lunching...

...first one table, then another table, then another table.

If you travel, you always have to look perfect.

With the tie, with the belt, with the shoes.

This is your mentality.

If it's like that all the year, it's very intense.

Because of that you went to Madrid?

No, but it was very intense.

But professionally you wanted to achieve your goals.

That is success and titles.

One, two, three...

Long live Barça!

And long live Catalonia!

Long live Barça!

Long live Catalonia!

Long live Barcelona!

Who?

Barça!

The players are selfish, you know.

If the coach is telling you what to do, you don't feel free...

...so you can't give everything you have. That's the feeling of the player.

Rivaldo, after he was elected the best player in the world...

...said to me he never wanted to play at 11 anymore.

And my reaction was:

"I don't believe in you at number 10, because your orientation is not so good."

Rivaldo.

Rivaldo.

A solo effort. - That's Rivaldo.

The team is set up for a passing game. He doesn't always stick to that.

Then I said to Rivaldo in an individual conversation:

"Then I have to say, you have to learn in the second team..."

"...to play at position 10."

So Rivaldo was on the bench after that...

...and we lost everything, because he was our top scorer.

Barcelona's home defeat is at hand.

0-3, and it's game over. Van Gaal has some explaining to do.

The trouble with Rivaldo after he was elected...

...was the biggest factor in breaking the team discipline.

No, that's nasty, your explanation...

...about me breaking the dressing room code.

That's just nasty.

It's very nasty on your part.

No, it's very nasty.

You are very nasty by saying I broke the dressing room code.

I didn't break any code, because I talked to Rivaldo.

That's why I said to him: "How am I going to explain this?"

You are very nasty.

No, no, you are very nasty.

"Breaking the dressing room code."

That's my interpretation. - And that is always negative.

Always negative. Never positive.

Well done, Edwin Winkels.

All the emotional moments you can watch on YouTube...

...are because I was protecting the interest

of the club or an individual player.

Merry Christmas everybody.

And Happy New Millennium.

Of course you are the coach, you decide.

But we felt like lions in a jail.

Because you always had your own ideas about football.

And I think there comes a moment, at least for Rivaldo, that he explodes.

Then I asked you in the dressing room...

...the players' group, what you wanted.

Do you want him to come back and play at position 10?

And you said, as a group, "We want Rivaldo to play at number 10."

Yes.

So then I must decide: "Okay, you play at number 10."

And we lost.

We lost.

So you gave Rivaldo what he wanted...

...you let him come back, despite a little voice saying, "Van Gaal, don't do this"?

Yes.

It was one of my biggest mistakes.

Those last few months weren't very enjoyable.

He said, "I've thought about it and I know this

will disappoint you, but I'm going to quit."

"Are you sure?" He said, "Truus, it doesn't feel right."

"And I don't want the money if I haven't worked for it."

"Louis, do you know what you're saying?"

He said, "Yes, we discussed this last night. We have it good."

How much was it?

I think about eight million.

The Dutch FA are happy to inform you that from 1 July 2000...

...Mr. A. P. M. van Gaal, Louis to his

friends, has been appointed national coach.

All the players know that they must win this game.

I'm feeling positive. I really believe we can beat the Irish.

Harte.

Keane.

An absolutely brilliant player.

Roy Keane. Jaap Stam.

Finnan.

Steve Finnan.

A chance for the Irish, and they score! It's Jason McAteer.

And it's all over for the Dutch.

No World Cup in Japan and Korea for them.

The darkest period was from 2000-2005...

...when I was the Dutch national coach. You guys were both in the team.

I think I made a wrong assessment there.

But I'd still like to ask you about it too.

The players said...

...I worked them too hard, but I didn’t think

so. I was preparing them for the game...

...so I didn't work them that hard.

I gave the reserve players some extra work...

...but it was simply the "Van Gaal philosophy".

I didn't understand, when so many of those players had been successful with me...

...why they didn't support me.

I don't know if support is the right word...

I think we...

We were already 30 by then, the two of us.

So we more or less knew what we had to do on the pitch and everything.

I think you should have coached more with that in mind...

...rather than focus on discipline and that kind of thing.

It was fine by me, I was used to you.

When you've got all these top players together...

...you should create an atmosphere of, let's have fun and play football.

Of course you have to train tactics too...

...but it was all a bit too much.

If you want to know where it went wrong, or wrong...

Of course it went wrong: we failed to qualify.

But that was, as I see it, because of excessive resistance from the group.

But I think, if you have such a fine group of players, which we had...

...and so many of them had been trained by myself...

...why don't they want to summon up the...

I don't understand. - You want to, but as you know...

We know how to play the game after 15 years.

I don't agree.

You didn't have to tell us, we knew exactly what was expected of us.

I don't believe in that.

Tactically, a few players can't carry the whole team.

You must know that as a coach yourself. - I understand that.

It's a combination of things. - It's not about tactics.

It's more about human interaction and about the way you approach those guys.

If you miss a few percentage points of hunger because of that...

...you can lose to Northern Ireland or draw with Northern Ireland...

...or surrender a two-goal lead to Portugal,

incredibly, in that second match.

You were very unlucky too.

It's sport at the highest level, which calls for discipline.

If you think the discipline is too strict, why can't you just say:

We'll do it anyway because we've been very successful with this coach.

I think we tried that anyway, Louis.

Okay. - Of course you do the work...

...but somehow it didn't come off.

AZ Alkmaar Together towards Victory

Good morning, Mr. Van Gaal.

I joined AZ Alkmaar during my dark period.

Fired as Dutch national coach, fired at Barcelona...

...and fired as a technical director at Ajax.

It was a difficult period.

Good morning, gentlemen, Good to see you're also on time.

All we need now are the players.

What led you, in 2005, to join AZ Alkmaar...

...a sub-top club in the Netherlands?

It had to do with Truus.

They were the final years of her father's life.

Truus wanted to be with him, so I waited for a Dutch club to approach me.

Also because my daughters needed me more at that time.

If Feyenoord Rotterdam had called me, I would have joined them.

I have a conference table...

...just like I had at Barcelona, except that was oak...

...and a lot fancier.

But I can do everything here that I did there.

I even think this office is fancier than the one at Ajax's old stadium...

...where it all started, so I'm not fussed.

El Hamdaoui makes the run.

El Hamdaoui...

There's the goal to make him the league's top scorer.

Mounir is a goal predator.

And lovely goals too. Chips, backheels, he had it all.

Stijn Schaars. Over the wall and in!

Was Stijn the kind of on-pitch aide you look for?

I look for people who think like me.

Stijn was quite a young captain.

Is the gym still there? - It looks different now.

In the third year, it was chaos. There was no discipline.

So I made you report to me when you arrived in the morning.

Remember? - Right.

Come to my office, so I could see...

...you had arrived on time.

I did that for a month...

...but that's not as it should be, acting like a dictator.

I stopped after a month, but then it all went downhill again.

And we started losing games.

Although we had good players. - So that wasn't the problem.

In terms of football qualities, not in structure.

I didn't want to continue leading the group

when we had lost three games in a row.

I told them, "If I stay on, we might even be relegated."

So you think to yourself, I can no longer motivate these players.

"I can't do this."

I can't motivate them.

Of course I can do it.

In the end we all said to each other:

"Listen, we don't want this coach to leave."

But then Louis comes back and says:

"This is all very well, but it still has to be on my conditions."

He wanted to see change. - We had to conform to his way.

So you can say yes, but you have to give him something in return.

Exactly. - But I was still so young.

The fact that we did it was an achievement in itself.

But why did you do it? Because you knew the coach's qualities.

It just felt wrong somehow. - It was a joy to work with this coach.

But you only realize it later, when the coach has gone.

Then you realize what a joy it was to train every day.

Every exercise we did, you always had to give 100 percent.

Fully focused. And after a while you saw...

...the level of quality of the group going up.

It was a pleasure to be on the pitch.

It's only later you start to realize how special it was.

I'd love to train with him just one more time.

I mean it. I always speak from the heart.

It was just brilliant.

National Champions

My Truus doesn't want me to say this...

...but we really are the best.

We're the best!

We're the best team in the Netherlands.

Yes!

Football is about winning.

About titles.

Here at Ajax, the way you do it is also important.

I told you already...

...I would invite Mr. Van Gaal. Please come in.

He wrote a book and he wants to offer it to us.

I think there are a lot of lessons in the book.

It's a guidance for us as coaches and for the players as well.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Erik.

I'll take this in Dutch.

So you know at once that if you had come here in my time...

...you would've had to learn Dutch.

Daley Blind.

Is like a football son of mine. - For sure.

So it's wonderful to be able to present this book to you.

It was an honour to contribute to it.

Do you want it? - Of course.

One advice: focus.

I try to do my best. - Yeah, but it's focus.

To be honest, I realize now that I could have asked you too...

...to say a few words about me.

Hakim Ziyech.

I think there's always room for improvement.

Do you agree? - Of course.

Do you have a realistic self-image? - Yes, always.

The fans have accepted you...

...despite you giving the ball away too much. That says something.

You're so phenomenally creative...

...but you put in work for the team too. That's what I like.

Thank you.

Cheese.

We've had the "Velvet Revolution" at Ajax.

There was a moment when us followers thought:

Van Gaal is not going to do this, right?

The Ajax supervisory board asked Van Gaal to be director.

But there is a certain animosity between yourself and Johan Cruyff, isn't there?

Definitely.

And Cruyff doesn't want Van Gaal to be director, right?

Absolutely right.

You knew that, didn't you? - Yes, it's in the book.

Exactly. It's here in front of me.

But I was wondering why you didn't give Johan a call to say:

"Johan, how do you see this?"

Why should I?

Because the way it all came out was so unpleasant.

Unpleasant for me, not for Johan.

So you could have spared yourself this. - I don't agree.

You can read in the book about what happened before that.

A 300 page book, and this is what you bring up again.

You think it's an odd question?

Very odd. - Seriously?

All the things Cruyff said and wrote about me, year in year out...

...also when he was in the Netherlands...

You have no idea. So check that out first.

It's not hard, he was in the newspaper every week, in La Vanguardia.

I remember Louis telling me just before Christmas:

"Maybe I should call Johan and ask him why he's doing this."

Nothing had happened between them.

And then I didn't play a good role.

I said, "He's the one that should call you to apologize for doing this."

"Not the other way around. Are you supposed to..."

Bad coach, bad person. Louis won the double.

He didn't call? - No, he didn't call.

So it does come down to ego.

Not at all.

No? - No. No.

When you're treated like this, you're going to say:

"Well, Johan," or whatever his name is...

"...come and have a chat, tell me what's the matter."

You would do that? - No.

If you say, 'This man..."

Ego is...

...not doing something which is a normal thing to do.

Ego is... - Do you understand?

Ego is your pride preventing you from...

It's not pride. - You lack the talent for subordination.

That's what it is. - No. This was so extremely frustrating.

It was not about ego, it was about fundamental values.

Do I want to turn the other cheek?

You don't. - No.

Not when you've been humiliated.

Hello.

There is Danée.

Where are your presents? - Still under the tree.

Give grandad a hug.

Have you got your cuddly toys with you?

At work, he's the coach, the trainer, the director.

At home, he's the father, the caring husband...

The grandad. - The grandad, the team player...

...always interested, the celebrator.

Celebrator? - Yes, we celebrate everything.

Look at that. Real socks.

To go with a tuxedo.

Really? Did you buy them?

This was the wedding in Portugal.

The Van Gaal family.

There were lots of sketches and songs. He loves that stuff.

It's my dad all over.

So Truus might be of royal descent too.

Louis van Gaal is the first Dutch coach to win the German league title. And he spoke:

Who has the best attack?

Bayern!

FC Bayern!

That's why we are the champions.

And...

...not just of Munich.

Also of Gelsenkirchen.

We are the best team...

...in Germany.

And perhaps also...

...in Europe.

Standing on the balcony at Bayern...

...is he that father who likes these things?

Definitely. - He always takes the lead.

It may be part of his character...

...but he always wants to create an atmosphere.

By shouting things, by doing things.

When you are the best, I think you should be allowed to shout it out.

we've had our fun, we've had our fun...

Hey, that's not good.

What's new at FC Bayern could be heard at Louis van Gaal's first training session.

It could be seen when Van Gaal's new signings were presented...

...and his new coaching staff.

Perhaps you can build on me, and trust me.

Beforehand I thought...

...that working in Germany would suit me.

Mentally, in the sense that I'm an incredibly fanatical coach.

And Munich is a prosperous city.

So Truus was very happy here, which was also important.

And I like structure, rules and discipline...

...which are all highly valued here.

So I thought life was wonderful here.

You still work here!

How are you? - I'm fine.

How are you? - Fantastic.

How is Truus? - Fine. She's still in love with me.

Incredibly.

We've been invited by Uli Hoeness.

Thank you.

We are always on time, right?

I think it's hard to talk to him...

...as he doesn't accept other people's opinions.

Including yours? - I don't have much left to discuss with him.

Today, a football club can't be a one-man show anymore.

Are we ready? Camera rolls?

Louis! - It's Uli!

How are you? - Good. Always good.

I'll be right back. In two minutes.

You're no longer president, are you? - No.

I'm honorary president.

Mia san mia.

"We are who we are." And I am who I am.

Self-assured, arrogant, dominant...

...honest, diligent.

Innovative.

But also warm and friendly.

We've really invested in the structure.

You have to do that. - Yes, you have to.

Mr. Hoeness, can you explain the difference between Louis' image...

...and his identity? Who he really is?

He's one of the greatest coaches in the world.

I thought so.

He always looks to the sport and to his team.

And his personal image is second.

Therefore life has not always been easy for him.

He made life sometimes too difficult for me.

You've had a plenty of famous coaches at this table.

How unique is he?

He is the manufacturer of the system which made Bayern successful.

Of the successes? - Yes.

The success of the last ten years, he was the founder.

It didn't go so well...

...and we lost and drew the first two games.

And then, do you remember? - You came to my home.

I was summoned already.

Not summoned. It was...

No, it was a courtesy visit, really.

I had seen that the coach needed some support.

There was no other motive, honestly.

I...

I want to believe that.

I always reach out to people. I always see the good in people.

If I'm disappointed, then I draw my conse...

I don't think so. I'm not mistrustful, I'm open, just like you.

But...

...this meeting at your home was for me...

You had a particular idea of this day.

It was strange that I was summoned to the president's home.

Not summoned. That's the whole point.

It felt like that to me.

My assistants know more than my president.

My assistants are always there, at training camp...

...when I'm talking to the players.

I believe you, but still, in the interest of harmony in life it can be good...

You're right. Truus tells me the same thing. - I'm sure she does.

It can be good to involve others in your considerations.

It makes life lighter.

I know I was also to blame. It was also my mistake.

This was worth the effort.

Incredible. - Magnificent.

I was never too keen to go to Italy. Not even on holiday.

Did any Italian clubs approach you? - Many.

AC Milan? - Yes, and Inter Milan, Juventus.

No, that was never the problem.

They've got a lovely cuisine here. - I do like Italian cooking.

I think all the nicest things come from Italy.

But then you're a fashion queen.

This thing drives me crazy.

Everyone thinks you should be the next national coach.

Even your usual critics on TV.

That was remarkable. - Yes, that was remarkable.

But I always say, if you know where the wind is coming from...

...you know the score.

One thing: Louis sleeps like a log and I lie awake.

Why is that, Truus? - For the past 26 years...

...I've been writing down things that have happened to me, in shorthand.

I also regularly reread my notes.

Prior to the World Cup in Brazil you were a mess.

We shouldn't go there, it was a waste of money. 2014, wasn't it?

I wrote down:

"Whatever happens, Louis must never ever work in the Netherlands again."

That's coming back now.

And I don't cry easily.

It was an awful period. The antisocial behaviour, the threats.

All the tensions. No. Let's hope they don't call.

So it's not going to happen.

That's nonsense.

I know he'd do a very good job.

They're hanging out to dry.

You can't touch them.

Robben. He's quick, if he can outsprint Ramos...

...he may be on his way to 5-1.

Casillas is already down on the ground. Robben will make it 5-1.

5-1!

Good morning. - Good morning. You're early.

Early? Three minutes.

Yes, I said you'd come one minute early.

How are you? We have to do it like this.

Yes...

You looked tanned. - The sun always shines in Groningen.

Does it? - Not really.

So how are you? - I'm fine.

Good. - Nice to see you.

Absolutely. It's been a while.

Number one: You know what you're getting.

Because he's straightforward and he's genuine.

In football, people often put on a show...

...or hide behind a mask...

...but he'll tell you things face to face, like this.

And he's not going to go behind your back and slag you off to his assistants.

What you see, is what you get.

If you don't like what he says, fight him with good arguments.

He believes in his "total man principle".

Players are human beings too. And I've seen...

...how it genuinely affects him when he has to disappoint players.

What's happening here?

What is going on?

A change of goalkeeper.

Cillessen isn't the greatest penalty killer, that's true.

He's replaced by Tim Krul.

The goalkeeper substitution, one of the highlights of the 2014 World Cup.

Goosebumps.

Also because of the choice Louis made.

Brilliant or ruthless?

Both, I think.

But his choice wasn't based on emotions.

He did what was best for the team.

Louis, brilliant or ruthless? - Both, as Arjen says.

Cillessen had very poor statistics when it came to penalties.

Krul has saved it!

But the question was: When are we going to tell Jasper?

I said, "We're not going to tell Jasper..."

"...as it might affect his conviction, his confidence, everything."

That's why Jasper was furious.

If you have to reject someone who gives it his all...

...it's a very tough decision to make.

But team interest overrides individual interests.

Keep this out and it's all over.

The window should be bigger.

But if this is bigger... - Can I make it bigger?

No, then the window becomes...

You're right.

Of course I'm right.

Did you think I don't know how this works?

First of all I want to thank Bobby Charlton...

...because it's a great honour.

As a trainer/coach of Manchester United these were my first steps.

And I was very proud to take them with Sir Bobby Charlton.

I think I can summarize most periods of your sports career.

But Manchester is difficult.

Manchester was my most difficult period.

I came in as a manager and everything was disappointing.

Most of the players in the squad were over 30.

It was my job to sort it out.

Rooney was also nearing 30.

He's kept going, Wayne Rooney. Brilliantly done. Yet again.

It's unbelievable. I was at the richest club in the world...

...and I could not buy the players I wanted.

I understand those frustrations now that I'm doing the job.

That was a frustrating time, but I always felt...

When you came in, I liked how you worked in terms of your honesty with everyone.

And I felt that you could actually improve us as a team.

I really enjoyed how you worked, especially on the training pitch.

And I felt, if we keep working...

Because we'd never worked on team shape before at Manchester United.

And I found it so strange.

Then to go in and do it constantly the way you

wanted us to do it, I really enjoyed that.

Thank you for the compliment.

Will we see you here next season for the first league game?

Are you confident of that? - Yes.

Because I have signed a three-year contract.

I knew Louis would be fired by Manchester United. I felt it.

We had a small boardroom there, and it was

always fun with the old Manchester legends.

Ferguson, Bobby Charlton...

We had a table there with good food and drinks.

Ferguson was always chatting to Truus.

Suddenly they stopped greeting us, just waved from afar. Something was wrong.

It was female intuition.

Then when the man denies it, Louis accepts that.

I said, "Louis, you're going to be fired. Get wise to it."

And I slammed the door of the apartment shut.

Truus already knew before the cup final...

...that I would be fired.

And I could not believe it.

When did you hear for the first time that I was fired?

After the FA Cup final... - After?

...when we went into the dressing room...

...someone said that your wife was angry...

...because during the game it had come out that Mourinho would replace you.

I was very disappointed because I felt...

...that everything was moving in the right direction.

If you had had one more year I think we would have been successful.

"Well, we did it!"

I said, "Louis, they say you've been fired."

He got so angry!

"Why do you have to spoil my party?"

"Stop all this negative nonsense!"

"Hi, it's Louis. You can come home, you were right."

His voice sounded broken, so I said, "Alright, I'm on my way."

When I came home I could see he'd been crying.

I hugged him, I had tears in my eyes too.

I think this is a such a great picture.

It was a shock to all of us.

There was no celebration anymore.

And the board, it wasn't there.

The most impressive thing for me was the next morning.

When we had breakfast...

...and you stuck with the plan for the preseason and the schedules.

I remember sitting there and thinking, if that was me, my head would be gone.

I have to serve the club, and my players.

Mr. Van Gaal.

Okay, that was quick. - And Mrs.

The good news, apart from the bad news about the cancer...

...is that people usually recover from prostate cancer.

But we are talking long term.

Something like, say, lung cancer would be much worse.

Prostate cancer is curable.

But we do have to take it seriously, as this is a serious form of prostate cancer.

It's what we figured.

I'd given you something of a hint.

Last time he said the doctor had already mentioned cancer.

What does the treatment look like? What are the possibilities?

How long will it take?

There's no point in looking too far ahead when we don't yet know where we are.

So that's a little... well...

How are you, Louis?

I must say I'm feeling a lot better now.

The first three weeks after the radiation treatment were disastrous.

After each radiation session I had all the possible side effects on the list.

But they're not just due to the radiation.

You also get an injection to tone down your male hormone.

It completely wipes out the libido, Geertjan.

I also have a catheter...

...which doesn't help when you want to make love.

Let's continue with the golf, as it's getting rather intimate.

Truus was very scared.

Truus took it badly.

She's not like me. I read up on the subject.

I know most men don't die of prostate cancer...

...but of other diseases.

Why would I be the only one to die of prostate cancer?

Here, my friend.

You're getting one of Truus' currant buns, as I want the other one.

With a slice of cheese.

Here you are. It doesn't get better than this.

A delegation from the Dutch FA was here yesterday.

They want to appoint Louis national coach. What do you think?

I'd sooner say no.

I thought the book had been closed after Manchester United.

Even that was ten or eleven years later than he had said.

Then I look at his desk and I see these sheets of paper with different line-ups.

So I say, "What is this?"

"I have to think ahead. Should it come to pass, I have to be well prepared."

So I think it will probably happen.

But the Dutch FA has to want it too...

...and be able to fulfil his demands.

My initial reaction is positive.

I'm thinking, who else can do this job at the moment?

There aren't that many coaches available...

...who have experience both as a coach and as a national coach.

So you fall back on the old guard.

I'm not keen on going to Qatar either, there's something...

...not quite right about it, in my opinion.

But Louis says you can't blame the players for it.

FIFA should never have gone there...

...or the politicians should object.

You can't leave this up to a national sports association.

They have to text me at the right moment.

Did I say something wrong, darling?

You gave away so many secrets.

No. Look at him sitting there.

I recently had a course of 25 radiation sessions.

Am I still capable of doing this job?

Will I be sticking my neck out too far?

And if I do say yes, will I only have three days of preparation?

It's a big risk to take.

Bye. - Bye bye. Good luck.

Thank you.

How can I influence a group of players in only three days...

...to get them to do what I want so we can qualify for the World Cup finals?

That's where the doubts are. And I'm not one to doubt.

You've always said this team can be world champions.

Only when they play as a team.

Did you come running? - Yes.

What's your name? - Ties.

Here you are. - Thank you.

Let's go.

Things have been finalized...

...and we're delighted that Louis has agreed to take on this job...

...together with Danny Blind, Henk Fraser and Frans Hoek.

It's a renewed acquaintance with my friends from the media.

Well, what do you know? Here I am, for the third time.

In 2000, I saw it as an honour.

In 2012, I saw it as an honour to serve the country.

But now, I'm even more honoured.

What can you do?

What can you change? What shouldn't you change?

We've got a really hard job ahead of us, but we're full of confidence.

And there's only one man who can do it, and that is you?

It's wonderful if the media want to write and say this about me.

It was a question, actually. - I thought it was a statement on your part.

I'd probably agree with it.

Thanks, Bert. - Welcome.

It's always about the interaction between the coach and his players.

So I FaceTimed with four or five players...

...because I want to see someone's eyes when I say something.

So first I checked to see if the influencers in the dressing room...

...supported the decision to appoint Louis van Gaal national coach.

As I didn't want to flog a dead horse.

That was a dream start, Louis.

But I wish you good health more than anything.

Yes, well, I've got this disease.

And I manage all the problems that go with it. For there are problems...

...but I manage them.

Just as you have to manage a football team...

...you have to manage this disease.

Good morning, Mr. Van Gaal. - Good morning.

I've come to do the check-up, starting with your blood pressure.

For the final time, I hope. - So do I.

During the first period of international matches, he went to hospital at night.

During the second period, he contracted pyelitis and got the wrong antibiotics.

I was panicking.

When a man of his age has a temperature of 40 degrees...

...you know something is seriously wrong.

At one point I thought, who cares about football?

I just want my husband to recover.

I don't think they'll take that away from Raphinha.

And people don't know.

There hasn't been a period of international

matches when he didn't go to hospital.

And Louis had the nerve to tell the doctor:

"Don't forget I've got a training camp in five days’ time."

Good morning.

Take a break.

I still see the ball being passed to stationary players.

Don't do that. I asked you to keep moving around, didn't I?

If you want the ball, make it clear.

Accelerate either towards or away from the ball.

Then it's up to your teammate to pass the ball to you...

...at the right speed.

It's something you have to practice.

You've made your run and then you have to go back...

...because Dumfries can't overlap as he has to mark the midfielder.

Do you understand?

So you're going to do that, for the team. Okay.

De Jong and Virgil, we've discussed that.

The Van Gaal strategy.

But you have to know he's there and he's unmarked.

If he isn't, you have to go yourself. You're quick enough.

Okay, line up.

Break. Well done. Both sides were excellent.

Penalty taker?

I'm the fourth in line.

But in a penalty shoot-out I will take the first one.

You've decided that for yourself? - Here.

If it's okay with you, of course.

You've become a coach now? - No, no.

As captain, you take responsibility.

But you must deliver. - I will. I will.

Pressure? - I can handle it.

Oh, Malen!

Got to score that. Poor ball reception.

Come on.

Great work by Memphis and Danjuma. Fantastic.

But you've got to score that.

They may give you a light anaesthetic. - That sounds like a good idea.

Louis is not the heroic type. - I think he is.

Apart from the fact that the whole country thinks you're a hero...

...I think you handled it well.

I was proud of him. I thought, if only people knew...

We were all impressed with him.

Catheter on his belly, kidney bag on his leg...

Not all players noticed? - None.

They don't know. - They don't know.

Admirable.

But my musculature is still giving me trouble.

Louis van Gaal, ahead of tomorrow's crucial qualifier against Norway...

...has ended up in a wheelchair...

...after injuring his hip in a fall when he was parking his bike.

Did you wonder if you could still do this?

The boys want me to stay, so does my staff.

So I have to stay.

Does that feel good?

Of course.

It's very positive.

What does that say about the closeness of this group?

It says everything, really.

Does it make you want to continue?

You might have thought, I just want to lie in bed now.

If we don't qualify tomorrow...

...it will be over anyway.

You'll no longer be national coach. - That's right.

I want to be there.

You control many things, Louis, but not fate...

This year hasn't been particularly happy.

For me.

Prostate cancer...

Now this again.

It does get to you.

Unbelievable, the poor state of Dutch roads.

I never realized.

We have dreams.

Very difficult, but, okay.

We have dreams.

But you need time. - Exactly.

Because you are Xavi, you will get time.

But I'm stressed, Louis, it's normal, it's Barcelona.

You suffer a lot. 24 hours, at home.

How can I help the team? How can I help the players?

Especially mentally, because when the results are not good...

...the players mentally are going down, this is the main problem.

Then you have to stay yourself. - Yes.

Always be the same, the same person.

That is only an advice from me.

Because when you change your personality...

...then it's gone.

Then you lose the dressing room. Exactly.

Maybe you can give my greetings to the Dutch players.

And thank you very much, Xavi.

No, thanks to you, Louis. Always. - All the best.

All the best to you too. And regards to Truus.

Truus, come.

Truus, here. One moment.

Truus?

Here.

My favourite.

Truus, how are you? - Still as good-looking as ever.

Very happy to see you.

I hope we can come to Barcelona to see you...

...and the players, he can watch the Dutch players.

Right, Louis?

Yes, come here and we will have dinner or lunch, as you want.

Okay.

Good luck. Bye bye.