Louis Van Gaal biography, married, wife, truus van gaal, children, wiki, press conference, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Playing Career</h2>
<p>Aloysius Paulus "Louis" Maria van Gaal was born on August 8, 1951, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was raised in a large Catholic family alongside eight siblings. His father worked as a salesman. Van Gaal began his football journey at the amateur club RKSV de Meer. In 1971, he joined the second team of Ajax, starting his professional career. He later spent four years playing in Belgium, most notably with Royal Antwerp, before returning to the Netherlands.</p>

<h2>Beginning of Coaching Career</h2>
<p>After retiring from playing, Van Gaal transitioned into coaching. He began his managerial journey with SC Telstar, where he briefly served as a manager. In 1986, he became the assistant coach at AZ Alkmaar. Although his tenure there was short-lived, it marked the beginning of his long and impactful coaching career. In 1991, following <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Beenhakker">Leo Beenhakker</a>'s departure, Van Gaal returned to Ajax—this time as the club’s head manager.</p>

<h2>Success at Ajax</h2>
<p>Van Gaal managed Ajax from 1991 to 1997, a period considered one of the most successful in the club’s modern history. During the 1994–1995 season, his Ajax side went undefeated in the UEFA Champions League, ultimately winning the tournament. That same season, Ajax also remained unbeaten in the Eredivisie. Under his leadership, the club won the UEFA Cup in 1992 and three Eredivisie titles. By the time he left in 1997, Van Gaal had firmly established Ajax as a European powerhouse.</p>

<h2>Barcelona and National Team Roles</h2>
<p>In 1997, Van Gaal was appointed head coach of FC Barcelona. His tenure from 1997 to 2000 yielded two La Liga titles and a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_del_Rey">Copa del Rey</a> victory. However, his time in Spain was not without challenges, leading to his departure in 2000. He returned to the Netherlands to manage the national team and guided their campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The qualification campaign was disappointing, with the Netherlands failing to reach the final tournament despite wins over teams like Andorra, Cyprus, and Estonia.</p>

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<h2>Return to Club Coaching</h2>
<p>Before the 2002–2003 season, Van Gaal returned to FC Barcelona for a second spell, signing a contract lasting until June 2005. However, the season proved difficult, and he departed after only several months. In 2004, he accepted a position as technical director at Ajax, but left soon after due to reported disagreements with then-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Koeman">manager</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Koeman">Ronald Koeman</a>.</p>

<h2>Tenure at AZ Alkmaar and Beyond</h2>
<p>In 2005, Van Gaal became manager of AZ Alkmaar, signing a four-year contract. He led the team to impressive finishes, securing second place in the Eredivisie in the 2005–06 season and third place the following year. Although AZ missed out on Champions League qualification in 2008, Van Gaal’s impact on the club was significant. He later managed several other teams, including a notable term at Manchester United, where he served as manager from 2014 to 2016. During his time at Manchester United, he won the 2016 FA Cup.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Net Worth</h2>
<p>Van Gaal was raised in the Catholic faith. He met his first wife, Fernanda Obbes, at the age of 18. The couple married after three years and had two children together. Fernanda passed away in 1994 due to pancreatic cancer. In 2008, Van Gaal remarried Truus Van Gaal. The couple currently resides in their home near Albufeira in the Algarve region of Portugal. As of recent estimates, Louis van Gaal’s net worth is approximately $16 million, and he has earned a reported salary of around $2.7 million annually during his managerial career.</p>

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