Louis van Gaal announces retirement from soccer aged 67

Former Barcelona, Manchester United and the Netherlands head coach Louis Van Gaal, who won trophies at every club he took charge, has announced his retirement from soccer.

The 67-year-old Dutchman has been linked with several clubs since he left the Red Devils at the end of the 2015-16 season, but he has now opted to call time on his long career to spend more time with his family.

Van Gaal has won numerous major trophies in his managerial career. /CGTN

"I am a pensioner now. I have no ambition to be a technical director or a TV pundit," Van Gaal told Dutch TV show VTBL.

"My wife Truus gave up her job for me 22 years ago, and followed me when I went abroad. I told her I would quit as a coach when I turned 55, but instead kept going until I was 65."

Manchester United star Jesse Lingard pays tribute to Van Gaal. /CGTN

"She is entitled to have a life with me outside of football. I can say she is very happy. I think I could have worked as a technical director, but in this role you can't attend training or say anything for fear it won't suit the coach, directors or media."

"I don't think I want a job like that, " he added.

Louis Van Gaal celebrates the German championship title on the balcony of the town hall, May 9, 2010. /VCG Photo

Van Gaal rose to prominence when he coached Ajax. He went on to enjoy tremendous success with spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Netherlands before his stint at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal had an unblemished record for nurturing promising starlets, giving first-team debuts to the likes of Edgar Davids at Ajax, Andres Iniesta at Barcelona, and Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford at United.