Netherlands Official:Van Gaal Steps Down As Netherlands Manager

In the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Netherlands was eliminated by Argentina 5-6 in a penalty shootout and stopped in the top eight. After the game, Van Gaal confirmed his departure in an interview, ending his third term. From the next cycle, Koeman will return to the Netherlands team to take over as coach.

“First and foremost I won’t be continuing,” he said in his post-match press conference following the 4-3 penalty shootout defeat. “I only did it for this period of time. This was my very last match of my third term as head coach.

“In that time I coached 20 matches and we didn’t lose a single one. I don’t know how many matches we won, but you can Google ‘Louis van Gaal, Dutch team’ and see the goal difference for yourself.”

He added: “I look back on it in a very positive way. WIth England we were the only team that was unbeaten. I don’t think we have been beaten today. It was only a penalty shoot-out.

“What I’m leaving behind is a great group. Personally and football-wise this is a team that is very close and with a lot of skill. I was coach for 20 matches and we never lost over that time. That’s for a reason.

“We’ve played against top countries as well, although those countries were eliminated earlier in the competition.”

According to statistics, in the 12 games led by the team to participate in the World Cup, Van Gaal has achieved an unbeaten record of 8 wins and 4 draws (except penalty shootouts). But both of their World Cups have been knocked out by Argentina on penalties.