Back to 1995: Van Gaal steps back into his old role as Ajax’s master teacher

"I'm still recognized everywhere, even abroad," Van Gaal tells us as we continue via the escalators toward the sixth floor. "Isn't that special? I think it’s wonderful that people still recognize me so well outside the Netherlands." Truus follows closely behind, enjoying the attention her husband continues to receive.

Two days of preparation
Upon arriving at the venue, Van Gaal surveys the room. Without giving much away in his expression, he remarks: "The slides you sent me in preparation were in the wrong order." The room falls silent for a moment. "Yes, yes, I did my homework," he adds with a subtle smile. Van Gaal has officially arrived, and everyone knows it.

We guide him into the room where all the notes are displayed. "Let’s see if I still remember everything." As it turns out, he remembers plenty. Van Gaal strides purposefully toward the first board. With great enthusiasm, he begins explaining. He immediately dives into the details and captures everyone’s attention. "A high circulation of the ball was needed here, but that’s not difficult. Any supporter could come up with that," he says casually. "And here, I was still illustrating transitions on a transparency sheet." Everyone laughs, but Van Gaal is completely serious.

We move along the remaining boards. At the third display, covering Ajax versus Torino in 1992, Van Gaal becomes even more animated. Using hand gestures, he moves across the board from left to right. His feet are constantly in motion as well. A step to the left, a step to the right. Every word is emphasized through body language.

A wonderful sight. When he notices a brief silence, he asks: "Are you all still following me?" An answer is hardly necessary, because Van Gaal is already continuing. "These are undeniable truths, and I still stand by them."

Ajax - AC Milan
Then comes the main event: Ajax versus AC Milan, the UEFA Champions League Final on the 24th of May in 1995. Van Gaal sits down, takes a glass of water, and opens his iPad. On it are all of his notes from that famous match. "Truus, do you have my glasses?" The glasses are still in the car, so someone goes to fetch them. Before starting, Van Gaal turns to our colleague and says: "Where would you like to begin? You’re the boss." Truus laughs from behind the camera. "You never say that to me." His beloved wife is clearly enjoying watching her husband.

"This morning he proudly told our housekeeper that he was going to Ajax today because they were making something for his 75th birthday. He really loves this. He truly loves Ajax. As a little boy, he used to stand at the gates looking in. He thinks this is fantastic. Everybody always wanted Louis’s advice because he’s honest. What you see is what you get. That’s Louis," says Truus candidly.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal begins speaking about the period leading up to the 1995 final. Whether seated or standing, he immediately commands the room’s attention. Accompanied by expressive hand gestures, he speaks passionately about his former talents, his playing style, and his philosophy. The glasses eventually arrive and are carefully cleaned by Truus, who watches her husband with pride.

Van Gaal opens his iPad and looks at the notes displayed beside him. "This order is wrong," he says. "I already told you earlier." Everyone laughs, but quickly rearranges the sheets exactly as Van Gaal wants them, and as he had them in 1995. "Of course I prepared myself. I spent the last two days watching and reading everything again."

Rearrange the sheets
"You start with the starting eleven, because that’s the foundation," he explains as the correct sheets are located. "The first thing I told my players was who would be playing. Everything else came afterward." With his glasses on, he points out the proper sequence. "That one, then that one."

At the same time, he checks his iPad, where the correct order is, obviously, already available. Van Gaal visibly enjoys watching everyone rearrange the sheets. He smiles toward Truus several times, gives her a wink, and then quickly turns back to the board with a stoic expression to ensure everything is in the right place.

At last, everything is correctly arranged. Van Gaal's patience has briefly been tested, but he is clearly amused by the situation. He is enjoying the gathering as much as everyone else, and it is wonderful to see.

Once again he stands before the board. It feels as though we have travelled thirty years back in time. We are the Ajax players about to walk onto the pitch in Vienna for the Champions League final against AC Milan.

As simple as that
Sheet after sheet, Van Gaal remembers everything. It is fascinating to witness. Every so often he steps toward us to maintain everyone’s attention and, if he senses it drifting, asks: "Do you understand?"

It is remarkable to see how little seems to have changed about the master teacher over the past three decades. Without any effort, he tells the entire story once more. It feels almost identical to 1995: the eye contact, the movement around the room, the return to the board, and the occasional rise in his voice.

Everything is covered, from positioning on the pitch to switching play, from AC Milan’s strengths to midfielders staying behind the ball. At one point he mentions Ronald de Boer. "And when Ronald sees this, he’ll call me again and tell me that I was right."

Van Gaal laughs and reaches the final sheet: the referee. "This is the one thing I can’t remember what I said." Would he do anything differently now, we ask. "No, because if I remember correctly, we won." As simple as that. And sometimes football can be that simple.

Van Gaal sits down, takes another sip of water, and reflects when asked whether this was his finest match as Ajax coach. He lists several memorable matches from 1994 to 1997 before concluding: "You know, two months after winning the Champions League, I was already focused on the next season."

Truus nods and takes a few photos with her phone. "Those were wonderful times. I remember a lot from that period. Not everything Louis is explaining here, of course, but he would sometimes involve me in certain questions about his players.”

The session comes to an end. Van Gaal has blown us away with both his knowledge and his performance. Ajax also presents him with a gift for his 75th birthday: a book containing all the notes that were photographed at the time by club photographer Louis van de Vuurst.

"He’s not much of a reader, but this is something he absolutely loves," says Truus. Van Gaal gratefully accepts the book and flips through the pages. He nods in approval because, like everyone else in the room, he considers it a wonderful afternoon.

He shakes our hands, thanks everyone, and leaves the Johan Cruijff ArenA with his beloved Truus by his side.