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Maarten Meijer

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Louis van Gaal: The Biography Paperback – October 1, 2015

by Maarten Meijer (Author)

4.2 168 ratings

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The first definitive insider biography of the new Manchester United manager

So who is Louis van Gaal? An inflexible ex-PE teacher who only knows how to act like a dictator, or a soccer visionary that has made him one of the greatest ever European managers? Wherever he has gone, van Gaal has been accused of being a domineering disciplinarian and a control freak. He is certainly, by his own admission, a man who leaves nothing to chance. A disciple in the 1970s of Rinus Michels’ Total Football philosophy, he is a fascinating contradiction—an ultra-individualist utterly devoted to the collective effort. He believes in the team over the individual, in always having a plan, and a team prepared to follow that plan. Van Gaal led the young Ajax team he molded to Champions League glory in 1995, went on to win titles across Europe with Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar, and Bayern Munich, and is currently in his second stint as national coach of Holland. It is a career that has never been short on color and drama—from fallouts with players to rants at the media wherever he has managed. Dutch soccer commentator Maarten Meijer’s has written the definitive biography of van Gaal—both the man and his methods. It offers the best psychological insight so far—from his earliest roots to his greatest triumphs—into the man given the task of returning the glory days to Manchester United.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ebury Press
Publication date

October 1, 2015
Dimensions

5 x 1.2 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0091960150
ISBN-13

978-0091960155
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Compelling . . . lifts the lid on the Dutchman they call the Iron Tulip." —Daily Mail

"Meticulously studied . . . offers more insight into his fellow countryman’s thinking." —Manchester Evening News

"Bulges with fascinating Van Gaal insight. While reading, you can’t help but once again be drawn to the man." —Voetbal International

About the Author

Maarten Meijer is a Dutch soccer commentator who has written books on van Gaal, Guus Hiddink, and Dick Advocaat.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ebury Press; Reprint edition (October 1, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0091960150
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0091960155
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.2 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,204,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,081 in Soccer Coaching (Books)
- #1,708 in Soccer Biographies (Books)
- #7,503 in Football (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 168 ratings

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Maarten Meijer

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Maarten Meijer loves adventure, sports, philosophy, and travel. He sailed a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Caribbean Sea. Originally from the Netherlands, he has lived and worked in the US, Russia, and South Korea for decades. He is fluent in English, German, Russian, Dutch, and knows survival-French and Korean. His published books include What’s So Good about Korea, Maarten? (Korea, 2005), Guus Hiddink – Going Dutch (Australia, 2006), Dick Advocaat – Biography (the Netherlands, 2009), The Korean Education Code (Korea, 2011), Louis van Gaal - the Biography (Penguin Random House, UK, 2014), Creating Top-Class Education (Korea, 2015, co-authored with daughter Renée), The Marriage Blessing (US, 2020), and Smarter Than Covid (US, 2021). Since March 2006, he has taught writing and philosophy at a private international school in the mountains of South Korea while continuing his activities as an author, a football/soccer commentator, and a social critic. Maarten and his American wife Myra have a daughter and three sons. The eldest was born in Montana, the second in New York, the third in Moscow, and the youngest in Seoul.

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4.2 out of 5

168 global ratings

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Kevin T

Knowing Van Gaal

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

I learned so much about van Gaal. Not someone I particularly like but at least I now know what makes him tick. I was curious as to the struggles between he and Cruyff (who I do admire greatly). Seems like a Dutch version of the Hatfield's and McCoy's. Good to know the roots and both sides of the struggles. I like van Gaal's ideas about penalty kicks to end a game and even about throw-ins. He is obviously an innovator. I don't wish him well at Manure but I can see that he is a born winner and his success record in Europe makes him a formidable character in today's modern game. This is a well written book which is easy to read. Very well researched and put together. Highly recommend it.

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Timothy Schum

Very interesting career with good insight into a very proud

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2015

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Very interesting career with good insight into a very proud, driven coach. I thought his ability to deal both with his players and the various managements he has dealt with was revealing. As a professional coach myself (college level) I think I would have enjoyed the book were I to have read it when I was in the midst of handling all the various facets that coaching involves.
I thought for some reason the book would delve into his first year with Man U but obviously the timing of its release did not allow for that.
Instead, having read the book one now focused on his first Man U season to see if the van Gaal methodology would work. Obviously, the man still "has it."
Meanwhile, the Dutch FA (the politics of which are revealed in the book) is still muddled with another of the latest coaches resigning in the last few days. While Louis may have had some successes, traversing the Dutch national team landscape if riddled with land mines.

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2014

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This is amazingly written book. It was just impossible to stop reading it. Van Gaal should feel equally satisfied on author's work too.

One person found this helpful

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Phil Duggan

Best suited for the anorak supporter!

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2016

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Ok read I guess, but most of what was said could have been written in fewer chapters. Perhaps best suited for the "anorak "supporter.

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2014

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Excellent read. I've learned so much about Louis van Gaal as a coach who's able to get the best out of his players.

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Atul S Nath

rare insight into a footballing brain

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2014

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An especially good read for Manchester United supporters, to get to know the new boss!
Covers his entire career from Ajax to Barcelona to Bayern and AZ

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2017

home

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015

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Great book, about a great manager

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Igor

Great book for one of the best couches in football history

Reviewed in Germany on December 9, 2017

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The first half of the book should be taught at university's on subject how you should write sporting biography, it was absolutely amazing. The second half of the book is not on that level I would say, but still pretty good.

Even though van Gaal is not participating in the writing of this book you will learn very well from it what type of men he is, what he was doing in order to win all the trophies that he won. There is very good inside of one of the most successful football coaches in the football history. You may agree or disagree with his tactics and methods, but you cannot disagree that he is successful.

The best thing about this book is that the author Meijer does not go into details about every game and all the fixtures of the games that you can check on internet, he is telling a story about van Gaal that you will enjoy.

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Chris Brooke

Compulsive reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2015

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I found this compulsive reading. I'm definitely an MUFC fan, but read about all football managers - anyone into football would appreciate this. The author delivered what seems to be a balanced amount of facts and quotes by those involved in the various stages of LvG's career, and allows us to make our own mind up. I couldn't put it down once I got into the style of writing and the chronological build-up to his MUFC appointment. I would definitely recommend it, and found the only downside of KIndle - my family all wanted to borrow it after hearing my description of it. Buy your own!!!

Lohit

Awesome

Reviewed in India on November 6, 2014

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This book is awesome....dont go by the number of pages in it...there is absolute quality in each and every page...best book on the Genius...Louis Vaan Gaal..