Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal announces that he has prostate cancer.

Netherlands manager, Louis van Gaal has announced on Dutch television that he is suffering from prostrate cancer.

The 70-year-old gaffer said he visits the hospital regularly, including during international games.

“In each period during my time as manager of the National Team I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the players finding it out until now. While thinking I was healthy. But. I am not,” he said on ‘Humberto’, a Dutch TV show.

The former Barcelona and Manchester United coach said that he suffered from an aggressive form of this cancer, but that he had planned to go to the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year if his health allowed him. Players from the Netherlands were not aware of his situation so far.

“I didn’t want to tell it to my players because it could have influenced their performances.

“I have a lot of discipline and willpower. I can do the job because.. I like it. I like to work with this squad. This is a present for me at a late age, this is how I see it.”

He went on to explain it’s an ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer and so far, van Gaal has undergone 25 treatments battling the disease.

Following a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign, van Gaal replaced Frank de Boer and helped his country qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

The Netherlands were drawn in Group A of the competition alongside hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal.