Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that he has prostate cancer in an interview to promote a new film about his life.
The former Manchester United manager said he has been receiving treatment for prostate cancer for quite some time.
Van Gaal noted that he had kept the news from his players until now.
“I didn’t want to tell my players because it could have influenced their performances,” he told Humberto, a Dutch TV programme.
“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. While thinking I was healthy, but… I am not.”
The 70-year-old mentor is in his third spell as Netherlands head coach.
He led the side to third place at the 2014 World Cup and now to the 2022 Fifa World Cup due to take place in Qatar later this year.
Van Gaal’s first wife, Fernanda Obbes, also died after being diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer back in 1994.
“I’ve been through a lot with illnesses, including with my own wife. So that’s just part of life,” he added.
“I, as a human being, have probably become richer because of all those experiences.”
