Netherlands appoint van Gaal as new coach

60 year old Louis van Gaal has been re-appointed by the KNVB as the national football team coach of the Netherlands in place of Bert van Marwijk, who resigned after the Oranjes lost all their three group matches at Euro2012 in Poland and the Ukraine.

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has given Louis van Gaal a two year contract until the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, his second term with the Oranjes whom he had coached earlier between 2000-02 but had then failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan/South Korea.

KNVB director Bert van Oostveen said, "We were looking for a coach with experience, personality and professional skills. Van Gaal has earned his credentials nationally and internationally and we know him as a dedicated coach."

In his last assignment Louis van Gaal had on April 9, 2011 be fired by German giants FC Bayern Munich after a chequered 22 month stay in which he won the German league and cup double besides reaching the 2010 UEFA Champions League final, but in the season thereafter he wasn't able to push the club towards success. Earlier van Gaal had successfully coached Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Van Gaal isn't an easy coach to deal with as an example earlier this year showed when he was supposed to be named as Technical Director of former club Ajax Amsterdam, but Dutch legend Johan Cryuff even went to court to block van Gaal taking over.

About his latest role van Gaal said, "I'm glad the KNVB approached me, this is the challenge I have been waiting for."