The Judas kiss of Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal’s decision to break his contract with Alkmaar football club AZ and move to Bayern Munich is a betrayal, writes Valentijn Driessen in the Telegraaf.


By forcing through a transfer to Bayern Munich, the football world has been robbed of its last certainty. ‘A contract is a contract and I always see out my contracts,’ Van Gaal has said.
But the status of a European giant and the challenge of Bayern Munich was enough for Van Gaal to throw his principles overboard.
He is leaving Alkmaar in the lurch. A year ago, the club’s management and players were firmly behind him, even though at the time he wanted to give up. But no, he does not appear to feel any moral obligation to them now.
After a championship year, for which Van Gaal deserves full credit, Alkmaar faces the challenge of the Champions League. And while Van Gaal has said he thinks AZ can do well, he prefers to go for victory with his dream club, Bayern Munich.
It is a sign of Alkmaar’s worship of Van Gaal than no-one has yet put up his hand and said the trainer is playing a trick on AZ. But, he had better keep quiet about standards and values in the future.
He has forced through a move to Bayern Munich using his so-called transfer-free status. He negotiated with the Belgian football association in the deepest secrecy even though he had a current contract.
Why the 57-year-old is so cavalier with his reputation remains a mystery. The train to Bayern Munich or another big club would have come along again. Perhaps his ego needed even more attention and he just does not care that he is leaving AZ with a massive problem of how to find a successor.
The kiss on the cheek he gave club owner Dirk Scheringa at the league championship celebration was, in retrospect, the kiss of Judas.
Valentijn Driessen is a sports reporter with the Telegraaf. This is an unofficial translation.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation