Daily Times

THE HAGUE: According to a Dutch newspaper, Hot-headed manager Louis van Gaal has announced his retirement from professional football on Tuesday, after more than three decades, citing ‘family reasons’.

“I don’t believe I’ll return back to work,” Van Gaal said, adding that he is definitely drawing a line under his training career.

The man nicknamed as the ‘Iron Tulip’ has received dozens of lucrative offers since his un-ceremonial axing from Manchester United last year, including a three-year contract in the East, most likely China, which would pay an estimated 50 million euros ($53.4 million) over three years, the paper said.

“I could have taken the contract,” Van Gaal said, “But I’m still here. So much has happened within my family and it has become time to face facts.”

Fiery and outspoken, 65-year-old Van Gaal found himself in the midst of a family drama after the husband of one of his daughters unexpectedly passed away, the newspaper said.

Despite winning the FA Cup last year – United’s first major silverware since the retirement of legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson – Van Gaal was given the boot in May.

He said then he was contemplating taking another manager’s job. “I said I would stop, but then cleverly called it a retreat. But now I don’t believe I’ll return to work,” Van Gaal said while receiving a lifetime achievement award in The Hague on Monday.