Former national coach Louis van Gaal was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau during a special thank you evening in Zeist. The 71-year-old Amsterdammer was also awarded the federal knighthood of the KNVB.
Van Gaal was national coach of the Dutch national team for three separate periods in the years 2000-2001, 2012-2014 and 2021-2022. During the last World Cup in Qatar was the quarterfinal the end station for Orange. Under Van Gaal’s three terms, the Orange played 63 games, winning forty times, drawing nineteen times and losing only four times.
Second father
Minister Conny Helder of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport hung the decorations at Van Gaal. Helder praised the football coach in her speech. “Several football players and several staff members call you their second father. They don’t just do that.”
People are eligible for the Order of Orange-Nassau who have made themselves particularly deserving to society. Van Gaal was already appointed knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1997. Officer is the fourth degree and even more prestigious than Knight.
