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Louis van Gaal has been named Dutch Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches at the 5th national coaching congress in Tilburg, despite not winning a trophy this season with AZ Alkmaar.
Rinus Michels Award
The former AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona and Dutch national team coach will receive the Rinus Michels Award at the start of the 2007/08 season before one of AZ's home games. Following in the steps of former winners Guus Hiddink and Co Adriaanse, Van Gaal won the award ahead of fellow nominees Ronald Koeman (PSV Eindhoven), Henk ten Cate (Ajax) and Fred Rutten (FC Twente).
'Honoured'
"I am very honoured with his award," said Van Gaal from his holiday home. "Usually the prize goes to a trainer who won something. We did not this season, yet still I was chosen. That really pleases me and I want to thank my colleagues for that," he added. AZ finished third in the Eredivisie and were runners-up in the Dutch Cup against Ajax, who also denied them in the play-offs for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.
Rinus Michels Award
The former AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona and Dutch national team coach will receive the Rinus Michels Award at the start of the 2007/08 season before one of AZ's home games. Following in the steps of former winners Guus Hiddink and Co Adriaanse, Van Gaal won the award ahead of fellow nominees Ronald Koeman (PSV Eindhoven), Henk ten Cate (Ajax) and Fred Rutten (FC Twente).
'Honoured'
"I am very honoured with his award," said Van Gaal from his holiday home. "Usually the prize goes to a trainer who won something. We did not this season, yet still I was chosen. That really pleases me and I want to thank my colleagues for that," he added. AZ finished third in the Eredivisie and were runners-up in the Dutch Cup against Ajax, who also denied them in the play-offs for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.
