Van Gaal accepts Ajax post

November start
The 52-year-old, who has been out of football since parting company with FC Barcelona last January, will take up his position on 1 November. He has signed a contract for no fixed period and replaces Leo Beenhakker who left Ajax in July to coach in Mexico.

Back home
"I always said that I would quit coaching at the age of 55 - well, it has come a few years earlier than that," Van Gaal said. "I am going back to the old nest. This is my club. I will be working in the background at first, and I want time to get my bearings."

Glory days
A former Ajax player, Van Gaal became coach at the Amsterdam club in 1991 and led the team to glory in the UEFA Cup (1991/92), UEFA Champions League (1994/95) and European/South American Cup (1995/96) before accepting an offer to join FC Barcelona in 1997.

Spanish sojourn
Despite winning two league championships in Spain, he quit Camp Nou after three seasons and was subsequently named Netherlands coach in 2000. He departed that post in November 2001 after failing to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and returned to club management with Barcelona the following May.

Koeman approval
Van Gaal's assistant at Barcelona was the current Ajax coach Ronald Koeman, and he said of the appointment: "Van Gaal's arrival is good for the club and for me. I have the impression that this job will be the last one for Louis van Gaal. He has said goodbye to his coaching career and I see his coming back as something that will help me."