After a heartbreaking loss to Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals, Louis van Gaal has announced his resignation as manager of the Netherlands national team.
The 71-year-old had previously stated that this tournament would be his last time leading the Oranje, a team he has previously led in three separate stints.
And after Friday’s nail-biter at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, he proved his point, finishing his third term in the role with a perfect record.
“First and foremost, I won’t be continuing,” Van Gaal declared. “I only did it for this period of time. This was my very last match of my third term as head coach.
“In that time, I coached 20 matches [winning 14, drawing six], and we didn’t lose a single one. I don’t know how many matches we won, but you can Google ‘Louis van Gaal, Dutch team’ and see the goal difference for yourself.”
The potential final game of Van Gaal’s legendary career will be remembered as one of the most exciting in World Cup annals.
Lionel Messi was a major contributor to Argentina’s 2-0 lead. He set up Nahuel Molina’s first goal with a brilliant no-look pass and then scored Argentina’s second goal from the penalty spot.
However, Van Gaal tried everything on La Albiceleste. Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst were brought in as target men to use as he looked for a way to get back into the match.
After 83 minutes, Weghorst buried a header to put his team up, and then, after ten minutes of stoppage time, he scored again after a deft free-kick routine with Teun Koopmeiners.
However, the Oranje were eliminated in the semi-finals by penalties, just as in 2014. This time, Emiliano Martinez made two spectacular saves in the tense shootout that followed a physical match that resulted in 17 cautions, three of which were issued after the final whistle.
Evidently disappointed by the outcome, Van Gaal was asked if he still thought Argentina would go on to win the World Cup.
“I don’t care. I won’t watch anymore,” he replied.