The Dutchman led Bayern Munich for two years from 2009-11. He enjoyed a tumultuous managerial career in which he took over the management of such teams like Ajax, Barcelona, Manchester United, and the Netherlands’ national team, primarily winning the Champions League in 1995 while in Amsterdam.
Van Gaal’s problematic nature
Former Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid has admitted what it’s like to work under Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman led Bayern Munich for two years from 2009-11. He enjoyed a tumultuous managerial career in which he took over the management of such teams like Ajax, Barcelona, Manchester United, and the Netherlands’ national team, primarily winning the Champions League in 1995 while in Amsterdam. Edson, meanwhile, also performed two years at Bayern, with the left-back’s time at the club covering Van Gaal’s exactly. Edson, who won 10 caps for the Netherlands, tried to adapt to life under Bayern’s compatriot. However, Van Gaal’s fiery nature was a particular issue. “When I went to practice in the morning, I never knew what kind of person to wait there,” he told reporters.
The Dutch coach was moody
“Van Gaal was moody. Sometimes he was all funny, but then again, the same things could be rude and provocative. I don’t want to give an example – some things don’t belong in the media.” Braafheid, however, told a story of how Van Gaal exploded completely after a 3-3 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in November 2010. “There were only three outfielders on the bench then,” he recalled. “Danijel Pranjic had problems in the first half, which is why Van Gaal sent me, David Alaba and Thomas Muller, to warm up. During the break, he told me: “Get ready, Pranjic will not continue. So I continued to warm up, but Pranjic stayed on the pitch. In the 80th minute, the coach finally took him off and put on Alaba. And I thought to myself: “Well, I don’t need to warm up anymore.”
“I went to the bench. Van Gaal didn’t say anything to me. It only started in the dressing room. “The match ended 3-3, and we lost more positions in the title fight with Dortmund. Van Gaal was by his side and shouted. He came up to me and shouted, ‘Why don’t you keep warm when I tell you to keep warm?’ “We disputed violently, and I tried to make him understand my point of view. He just shook his head and went to yell at someone else. He was a very problematic person, although, in retrospect, I can understand some of his actions that I could not know at the time. “After leaving Bayern Munich, Braafheid turned out for Hoffenheim, Lazio, Utrecht, and currently with Austin Bold in the USL Championship.