Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed he is cancer-free after successful treatment.
The 73-year-old, who managed United for two years and won the FA Cup in his final game in charge, made his prostate cancer diagnosis public before the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign in 2022.
Van Gaal received treatment during his third stint as head coach of the Dutch national side but did not tell his players that he was suffering from cancer until seven months before the start of the tournament in Qatar.
The Dutchman resigned after the Netherlands’ World Cup exit and has not returned to management, although he is now a special adviser to Ajax.
‘Two years ago, I had a few surgeries, and it was all bad, including my fitness, but it all turned out well,’ Van Gaal said on Humberto Tan’s RTL show on Friday night.
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‘I’m no longer bothered by the cancer but I still have check-ups every three months. My PSA level is measured and it’s 0.0. That’s going well, and the spread has also remained limited. I’m getting fitter and fitter. I’m 73, so I look good, don’t I?’
Van Gaal also admitted he felt ‘ashamed’ after he wet himself at an awards ceremony during his treatment stage in May 2022.
‘I haven’t experienced that much pain but I’m a very clean boy,’ Van Gaal said.
‘Back then, it was incredibly painful that I had to let everything go and walk around in diapers.
‘I make a lot of public appearances, and I’d wear very dark trousers to hide it. That’s not nice because I’m still a public figure. When that happens to you, it’s not nice.
‘I had to hand out trophies on behalf of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie and I just wet my pants.
‘Nobody says anything to me about it, but I’m ashamed of it. That’s all behind me now, so I can manage it very well.’
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