NETHERLANDS have confirmed the departure of head coach Louis van Gaal.
The 71-year-old revealed after the penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals that he was stepping down and retiring from management.
Now Netherlands have announced his exit on social media after 16 months in charge.
Alongside a picture of his stats as national team boss, the team’s official Twitter account posted a short message.
It read: “What a ride it has been. Thank you for everything, coach. #NothingLikeOranje.”
Van Gaal, who is currently battling prostate cancer, previously took charge of Netherlands from 2000 to 2001 and 2012 to 2014.
His inspired introduction of Wout Weghorst towards the end of the quarter-final against Argentina in Qatar saw the ex-Burnley man score twice to send the game to extra time.
But it was ultimately not enough as Lionel Messi and Co clinched victory on spot kicks.
And Van Gaal confirmed after the defeat that he would be leaving.
He said: “First and foremost, I won’t be continuing.
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“I only did it for this period of time. This was my very last match of my third term as head coach.”
Van Gaal has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world including Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
He won three league titles and the Champions League with Ajax, two LaLiga crowns with Barcelona, the Bundesliga with Bayern and FA Cup with Man Utd.
Van Gaal will now continue to battle prostate cancer having previously received 25 radiation treatments which he said “done its job”.
