Manchester United have sent a supportive message to former manager Louis van Gaal after the Dutchman revealed he has prostate cancer .
Van Gaal said on Dutch television that he had been fighting the cancer for some time, but that he had kept his diagnosis a secret. The 70-year-old is manager of the Netherlands national team, who he will lead at the World Cup later this year.
"In each period during my time as manager of the national team I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the players finding it out until now,” he said on Dutch programme Humberto while promoting his new film, LOUIS. “While thinking I was healthy. But.. I am not.”
Van Gaal managed United between 2014 and 2016, winning the FA Cup before being replaced by Jose Mourinho. “Everybody at Manchester United is fully behind our former manager, Louis van Gaal, in his battle against cancer,” the club wrote on social media. “Sending you strength and courage, Louis.”
Van Gaal explained that he has already undergone treatment 25 times for prostate cancer but initially chose to hide it from his players. "I think you don't tell people you work with like that because it might influence their choices, their decisiveness,” he said.
"So I thought they shouldn't know. You don't die from prostate cancer, at least not in 90 per cent of the cases. It is usually other underlying diseases that kill you. But I had a pretty aggressive form, got irradiated 25 times. Then you have a lot of management to do in order to go through life.
"I did have preferential treatment in the hospital. I was allowed in through the back door when I went to an appointment and was immediately pushed into another room. I have been treated wonderfully. You will of course tell your friends and relatives about it. The fact that nothing has come out yet also says something about my environment. That's great."
Van Gaal is one of the most successful managers of the modern era, having been in prominent roles for the past 30 years. He made his name with Ajax between 1991 and 1997, where he led the side to consecutive Champions League finals and won the competition in 1995.
He moved onto Barcelona, where he won two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey and also had success with Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga and German Cup. Van Gaal is now in his third spell as Netherlands boss.
The Dutchman won 54 of his 103 matches in charge of United, but could only manage finishes of fourth and fifth in the Premier League. His crowning achievement with the club came in the FA Cup, where they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley.
