Louis van Gaal insists he is not looking past the World Cup before the Netherlands’ clash with the USA in the last 16, but he did little on Friday to shoot down the possibility of a switch to Belgium after the tournament.
The Dutch manager faced more questions about his future than Saturday’s match during a news conference, declining to rule out taking the post vacated by Roberto Martínez on Thursday after Belgium’s shock group-stage departure.
“We want to become world champions so we’ve got another four matches ahead of us and then we’ll see whether there are any offers on the table,” Van Gaal said through a translator. “If we become world champions, everybody is so opportunistic in this football world that there will be offers. I know that full well.
“But for the moment we are not world champions. And if I have to believe the Dutch media, we will never become world champions.”
Van Gaal further acknowledged the rumblings that have linked him with the vacancy, saying: “Belgium is a wonderful country with really friendly people – [Knokke-Heist] is a wonderful beach town – so yes I’ve thought about it.”
Pressed to expand on what it would take for him to take the job, Van Gaal said that Belgium’s Football Association needed to persuade his wife, Truus, in order to close the deal.
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“You have to convince Truus,” Van Gaal said. “Joking aside, I am always at liberty to take decisions myself but there are certain countries that I won’t move to, and my wife, Truus, will certainly not move to.”
The speculation did not end with Belgium. Asked whether taking the reins of an African side would pass muster with his wife, Van Gaal again left the door open: “I don’t think so, but you’ve got to keep your options open.”
The 71-year-old Van Gaal, who recently had treatment for prostate cancer, is the oldest coach at the Qatar World Cup, having come out of retirement for a third stint at the helm of the Oranje after their defeat by the Czech Republic in the last 16 at last year’s European Championship.
The team are 18 games unbeaten since then, having conceded only 14 times, making him an in-demand figure, with Ronald Koeman confirmed as his successor. But despite all the chatter on Friday over his future, Van Gaal insisted his eyes were fixed on the present.
“USA has demonstrated that it has an excellent team, I would say even one of the best teams,” Van Gaal said. “It’s going to be a very tough match but it’s nothing we can’t overcome. We also have a good team.”
