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Van Gaal to be new Dutch coach |
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July 2, 2000
ROTTERDAM (AP) - Two days after the shock resignation of Frank Rijkaard as coach of the Dutch national team, everything points in the direction of former Ajax and Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal in taking over the position.
Van Gaal is out of a job after his acrimonious departure from Barcelona last month and he has long said the national team job is high on his list.
"Everything seems to lead in the direction of Van Gaal," said Rijkaard.
Pundits and columnists too pointed to Van Gaal as the likely successor of Rijkaard.
Former great and proven coach Johan Cruyff had quickly said he had no interest in taking the high-pressure job.
The current crop of players too were pointing in the direction of the coach who brought the European and intercontinental cup to Ajax in 1995, four years after starting his stellar rise with the Amsterdam club. With Ajax, he also won three national titles and the UEFA Cup.
He left for Barcelona in 1997, winning two national titles for the Catalan club. He failed to deliver the European Champions Cup though and left amid a barrage of mudslinging at the end of this season.
He packed Barcelona with Dutch players and many of them are firmly backing him as national coach.
"He is cut out for the job," said Dutch captain Frank de Boer. "He already proved at Ajax and Barcelona he can achieve things."
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