
Louis van Gaal, 73, announces he is free from prostate cancer as former Man United manager reveals he is getting 'fitter and fitter'
The 73-year-old was diagnosed in late 2020, but kept the news private until April 2022, when he went public during his third spell as head coach of the Netherlands.
He revealed it was an 'aggressive' form, undergoing around 25 radiation therapy sessions, hormone injections, surgeries, catheters, and urine bags, while continuing to coach and even lead his team through the 2022 World Cup.
Van Gaal resigned after the tournament to focus on fighting his prostate cancer, and revealed in September 2023 that it would be a 'miracle' if he ever goes to the toilet by himself again.
Nevertheless, last year, he candidly shared: 'I can pee naturally again, which is important. But I cannot have sex anymore, that's a problem.'
And now, the legendary coach's health has continued to improve. Van Gaal is completely cancer free but is still receiving check-ups every few months.
The Dutchman was diagnosed in 2020 but only went public with the news in April 2022
'I no longer suffer from cancer,' he said. 'Two years ago, I had a few surgeries. It was all bad then.
'But it all worked out in the end, so I can manage it now. I have checkups every few months, and that's going well. I'm getting fitter and fitter.'
Van Gaal coached Man United between 2014 and 2016, lifting the FA Cup during his final season at Old Trafford.
He took a five-year break from management, citing 'family reasons', before returning to the Netherlands dugout in 2021.
Before managing in England, Van Gaal enjoyed stints at Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AZ Alkmaar, and two tenures with his national team.
He won 566 of his 930 games as a manager - a 60.86 per cent win rate - and is considered by many as one of the greatest tacticians the sport has ever seen.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd thrash Bournemouth to keep up perfect pre-season record
MANCHESTER UNITED 4-1 BOURNEMOUTH: The Red Devils thrashed their fellow Premier League side in wet and wild conditions in Chicago, as Ruben Amorim's resurgent side maintained their winning form on their US pre-season tour Manchester United maintained their winning start to their US tour, defeating Bournemouth 3-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Victory saw Ruben Amorim 's side avenge their 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth at Old Trafford last season, with Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad and Ethan Williams scoring the goals in wet and wild conditions in the windy city. United's win also means they are the only side with a 100 percent record in the four-team Premier League Summer Series, heading into the final round of games in Atlanta on Sunday. Here are five talking points from United's comfortable win in the windy city. Hojlund's timely striker On the day United made their move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, the player currently leading their attack, Hojlund, provided a timely reminder of his goalscoring ability by plundering the opener. Hojlund toiled last season, managing just 12 goals in all competitions, which was one of the reasons United made recruiting a proven goalscorer their top priority in the summer transfer window, with Sesko and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins their top targets, having seen Liam Delap go to Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal and Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool. Hojlund may find himself surplus to requirements next season, if United get Sesko or Watkins, and may ultimately end up leaving or going out on loan, but his work-rate and desire cannot be questioned, even if he is not prolific enough to lead the line for United. Shaw shows his class After spending most of last season a hostage to injury, featuring in just 12 of United's 60 games, the new campaign is one of huge significance for Luke Shaw. Playing at left centre-back, Shaw started superbly, executing a perfectly-timed robust tackle early on to dispossess Antoine Semenyo as the Bournemouth attacker surged towards the United goal. Shaw played with confidence thereafter, surviving a scare on the half-hour when he went down after Semenyo had trodden on his left foot. Shaw came out on top in their personal battle and coming through the game and playing so impressively was a huge boost for Amorim, who described the 30-year-old as ' world class' in an interview earlier on the tour and who intends for him to be a key player for him next season. 'I really like this formation,' said Shaw ahead of the game. 'But, honestly, I don't mind wherever the manager wants me to play. I'm happy to play anywhere. I've been playing left-centre back this pre-season and I'm just really happy to be doing this pre-season as I missed the last pre-season.' Mount makes his mark Another United player with a point to prove, after two injury-plagued seasons, was Mason Mount who, like Shaw, was handed a starting place. Like Shaw, Mount played with intensity and purpose, linking up well early on with Bruno Fernandes, the pair exchanging passes before the United skipper saw his shot saved. Mount played a role in United's opening goal after eight minutes, his clever run off the ball dragging a defender away and opening up enough space for Patrick Dorgu to pick out Rasmus Hojlund, whose glancing header beat Djordje Petrovic in the Bournemouth goal. In the 25th minute, Mount's quick-thinking led to United's second goal, after he spotted Dorgu's run and took a swift free-kick, scooping the ball high for him to run on to and dispatch beyond Petrovic. There was certainly enough in Mount's first-half display to suggest that, if he can stay fit, he can be influential for United next season. Cunha too tired to play Amorim made six changes from his starting line-up from United's 2-1 win over West Ham in New Jersey in their US tour opener. The most notable absentee was Matheus Cunhaw, who was not even included in the match-day squad, after complaining of fatigue in the build-up to the game against Bournemouth. 'We need to assess all the players,' said Amorim. 'We have to be careful with everyone. He's available for the next one. Matheus felt a little bit fatigues. He was ready to play, he wants to give everything, but we gave to be careful.' Manchester weather in Chicago Soldier Field, the 61,000-capacity home of NFL team the Chicago Bears, was not even half-full for United against Bournemouth and the game that preceded it between West Ham and Everton. But as the weather worsened and swirling winds were accompanied by driving rain, with no cover in any of the four stands, the attendance became even more sparse as fans decided to leave early because of the conditions. The hardy ones left behind putting on ponchos to protect themselves from the relentless showers that fell. After the searing heat of the previous week, in which the temperatures in Chicago hit the high 90s, the weather more akin to Manchester was no doubt welcomed by the players. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Man United's 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth: Ruben Amorim's tactical tweak, the stalwart having a revival, and why Matheus Cunha missed out
Manchester United battered Bournemouth 4-1 in a rampant display to go top of the Premier League Summer Series table. Rasmus Hojlund and Patrick Dorgu had them 2-0 up at half-time before Amad Diallo and 19-year-old Ethan Williams doubled the scoreline in the second half. Ruben Amorim 's side had the lion's share of possession and chances, the only downside being Matthijs de Ligt 's late own goal after David Brooks' cross. The Red Devils boss had promised an experiment and fans certainly got that, with Bruno Fernandes starting in a deeper role alongside Casemiro. United supporters were denied the chance to see Matheus Cunha in action as he was out with fatigue, but there were plenty of positives to take from this. Mail Sport's Chris Wheeler was in Chicago to bring you the five things we learned. Hojlund's bid for redemption On the day that Manchester United made their move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Rasmus Hojlund provided a timely reminder that he still has something to offer in the impressive 4-1 win over Bournemouth in Chicago. The Dane has most to lose from Sesko's arrival if United can strike a deal for the Slovenian, and could even be used as a makeweight in a player-plus-cash swap deal. At the very least, he will be relegated to second-choice striker this season, so it was significant that he put United in front against Bournemouth at Soldier Field. Having hit the post early on against West Ham in New Jersey on Saturday, Hojlund took his opportunity when it arrived in the eighth minute. Patrick Dorgu crossed from the left and Hojlund got away from his marker to send a glancing header inside the post. The 22-year-old thought he had scored a second when he claimed to have got a touch to Amad Diallo's shot as United went 3-0 ahead, but one was enough. It won't change United's thinking on signing Sesko, but at least it was a positive reaction by Hojlund to reports that the club have approached Leipzig and speculation over his own future. It was just one of the positives from another promising performance by United, sweeping aside a Bournemouth side who have won two of the last four encounters between the two clubs 3-0, drawing the other two. Fitness work paying off It has been striking just how sharp and hungry United are looking in pre-season, both in their opening US tour game against West Ham in New Jersey and again here in Chicago. The fitness work United have done to hit the ground when the season starts with a tough opener against Arsenal on August 17 has been clear to see. The players look lean and full of energy. The passing is crisp, the pressing intense and the movement slick. It's also been noticeable that Ruben Amorim has told his players to restart play quickly, and it paid off for the second goal against Bournemouth when Mason Mount's speed of thought saw him take a quick free kick and Patrick Dorgu muscled Julian Araujo off the ball to score with a shot that keeper Djordje Petrovic should probably have saved. These are early days, of course, but United are looking much improved on tour with two deserved wins under their belt. Shaw's revival Luke Shaw spoke candidly on the eve of this game about his injury misery last season and desperation to make a fresh start, and the England defender has made a positive start on tour in the US. Having turned 30 earlier this month, and with a wretched recent injury record, Shaw is understood to be managing the work he does in pre-season, training with his teammates most of the time but sitting out some of the more intense sessions as a precaution. It also helps that Shaw is operating as a left-sided centre-back in Amorim's system, which requires him to do less running down the left flank. After a succession of muscle injuries in what he described as a 'horrible' season that tested him physically and mentally, that is bound to be a benefit. 'I've spoken a lot about left-centre back or left-wing back, just in general with a lot of people asking me the same question, but not too much with the manager to be fair,' he told reporters at a community event on Friday. 'Honestly, I don't mind where the manager wants me to play. I think at the moment, I've been playing left-centre this pre-season so we'll have to see if that carries on. I'm just really happy to be doing this pre-season. Obviously, I missed last pre-season. I'm just happy to play anywhere.' It means we will see Shaw as less of an attacking force, but he showed his defensive prowess in the 16th minute with a fantastic interception tackle to stop Antoine Semenyo going clear. There was a scare shortly afterwards when Shaw went down after Semenyo stood on his foot while scoring a disallowed goal, but the United defender was able to continue after treatment. It was a solid all-round defensive performance by United marred only by an own-goal late on by substitute Matthijs de Ligt who turned David Brooks' cross into his own net. Amorim's tactical tinkering Questions have been asked about how United will fit in all their forwards this season after spending more than £130million to sign Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Ruben Amorim has a number of other players who can operate in the two No.10 positions including Amad Diallo, Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee. Diallo and Mount played there against Bournemouth, with the Ivorian firing United's third goal and Mount getting an assist for the second. Fernandes dropped into midfield and Zirkzee has yet to play on tour due to a minor injury. But Cunha was ruled out of the game with what Amorim described as fatigue and was rested as a precaution, having played in the opening two pre-season friendlies against Leeds and West Ham, which is a reminder that Amorim will need cover in every position. 'Cunha has fatigue,' said the United boss before kick-off. 'We need to assess all the players. We have to be careful with everyone. He's available for the next one. Mateus felt a little bit fatigued. He was ready to play, he wants to give everything, but we need to be careful.' Mbeumo has yet to make his debut after signing from Brentford for £72m on the eve of the tour, and although he and Cunha expected to be the first choice No.10s, there will be plenty of opportunities for the others with captain Fernandes expected to start deeper more often. United were demanding with their press and often won the ball high up due to their intensity Matheus Cunha was forced to sit out the match due to being fatigued, but should be back soon Downpour drives away fans There were none of the thunderstorms that caused such havoc at the Club World Cup in the US this summer, but a torrential second-half downpour dampened the mood inside Soldier Field and sent hundreds of fans running for the concourses. It's not like they weren't warned after a day of rain in Chicago and brooding skies overhead beforehand. Many came wearing ponchos to keep put the showers which started falling again in the first half. But the heavens really opened after half-time as rain sheeted across the pitch and onto supporters who have no cover at all in this stadium. They sought sanctuary inside and many will have missed seeing United's third and fourth goals by Amad Diallo and Ethan Williams. The 61,500-capacity arena was only half full as it was, but there were thousands of empty seats by the end.


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd transfer news: Ruben Amorim given Ollie Watkins boost as new goalkeeper targeted
Manchester United want to make Ollie Watkins their third signing of the summer transfer window and Aston Villa are preparing for a bid by identifying his replacement With just over a month of the summer transfer window remaining, it's time for Manchester United to move into another gear. The Red Devils wasted no time in getting their first signing of the line, snapping up Wolves forward Matheus Cunha on the first day of the window by triggering his £62.5million release clause. Negotiations for Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo weren't as straightforward. United's third bid of £71m was eventually accepted and after announcing his arrival last Monday, Ruben Amorim's side can move on to their next target: Ollie Watkins. Mirror Football understands that Aston Villa striker Watkins is top of United's shortlist amid their hunt for a new No.9. Villa won't part ways easily, though, and sales will be important in funding a bid. Four of Amorim's five-man bomb squad remain at the club, having not travelled on their pre-season tour of USA. But talk of incomings is filling more column inches. Villa in talks with Watkins replacement Aston Villa have identified RB Leipzig star Lois Openda as a replacement for Ollie Watkins should he join Manchester United. Belgian striker Openda scored 13 goals for Leipzig last season after notching an impressive 28 in his first term following his club-record £37m move from Lens in 2023. A report from Belgium states that Villa have been in contact with the 25-year-old's representatives for several months. However, it adds that Villa would have to sell Watkins before signing Openda. United weighing up Pope bid Manchester United are considering making a move for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope after they agreed a deal to sign Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton. Pope, 33, has entered the final year of his contract at St James' Park and Eddie Howe's faith has waned. TalkSPORT report that the England international fits what United are looking for. Ruben Amorim wants to bring in a goalkeeper who can provide competition for Andre Onana. Antony rejects trio of clubs Antony has reportedly rejected offers from Sao Paulo, Botafogo and clubs in Saudi Arabia as he holds out for a return to Real Betis. Manchester United are said to be demanding £30m for the Brazilian winger and don't want to loan him out again after his successful spell with Betis last season. Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo add that Antony, 25, doesn't want to stay in the Premier League. That's despite rumoured interest from Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.