The Netherlands national team head coach Louis van Gaal has revealed that he is battling prostate cancer.
The ex-Man United boss made the shocking revelation on Dutch TV show Humberto while promoting his new film, LOUIS, and it is understood that the 70-year-old’s fight against prostate cancer is documented in the movie.
In the interview, the manager revealed that he has undergone 25 treatments with the hope of overcoming the illness.
“I think you don’t tell people you work with like that because it might influence their choices, their decisiveness.
“So I thought they shouldn’t know. You don’t die from prostate cancer, at least not in ninety percent of the cases. It is usually other underlying diseases that kill you. But I had a pretty aggressive form, got irradiated 25 times. Then you have a lot of management to do in order to go through life.
“I did have preferential treatment in the hospital. I was allowed in through the back door when I went to an appointment and was immediately pushed into another room. I have been treated wonderfully. You will, of course, tell your friends and relatives about it. The fact that nothing has come out yet also says something about my environment. That’s great,” Va Gaal said.
The diagnosis had been kept a secret from his players with the tactician set to lead his country to the 2022 World Cup later this year where they are in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Senegal, and Ecuador.
Apart from United and the Netherlands, the Dutchman has coached Ajax, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.
