The search for a long-term solution to the position of German national coach is once again filling the gazettes this Bundesliga weekend. In addition to Julian Nagelsmann, who is still considered the favorite to succeed Hansi Flick and Rudi Völler as an interim solution, the name Louis van Gaal is mentioned again and again. Another FC Bayern professional has now commented on the veteran coach.
In the days surrounding the international test match against France, which the German national football team won 2-1 last Tuesday, Bayern legends Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger had already commented on van Gaal.
Both made it clear that the now 72-year-old, with his straightforward and consistent way of working, might be exactly the right person for the head coach position at the DFB.
Van Gaal’s commitment would be a first in the DFB’s 110-year international history, as a foreign football teacher has never been the head coach of the German national team before.
Van Gaal won the double with FC Bayern
In addition to Lahm and Schweinsteiger, Matthijs de Ligt also trusts the Amsterdam native to take on the task with the four-time world champions.
“He’s a good coach with a lot of experience. He obviously knows the German mentality and can make a team much better,” the FC Bayern central defender was quoted as saying on Friday evening after the draw against Bayer Leverkusen (2-2) in the mixed zone.
De Ligt himself played in the Dutch national team in 2021 and 2022, including at the World Cup in Qatar last winter, when Louis van Gaal led the Elftal to the quarter-finals, where the final stop was only in the penalty shootout against Argentina.
In total, van Gaal had already looked after the Dutch as a bond coach three times, in the years 2000 to 2002, 2012 to 2014 and most recently from 2021 to 2022.
In Germany he is best remembered as the former head coach of FC Bayern. In 2010, he celebrated the German championship and DFB Cup double with Munich and was in the Champions League final against Inter Milan (0-2).