Louis van Gaal considers Clarence Seedorf to be the greatest football talent he has ever had under his belt. The national coach of the Dutch national team worked with the former midfielder at both Ajax and the national team. “The best talent? Then I can’t ignore Clarence Seedorf”, reveals Van Gaal from the YouTube channel Our the Dutch of the KNVB.
Seedorf made his debut for Ajax on October 28, 1992. “He was sixteen when he made his debut with me,” Van Gaal knows. Seedorf was the youngest debutant ever for the team from Amsterdam for a long time, until Ryan Gravenberch took over the record in 2018. “Of all Dutch players, Seedorf has won the most prizes at the international level. So I can’t ignore that. That’s why I want to name him.”
Still, Van Gaal doesn’t consider Seedorf the best player he’s ever had under his wing. “The best is Xavi or Andrés Iniesta,” says the national coach. “They were seventeen and eighteen when I let them make their debut at Barcelona. I think they are of a higher level than Seedorf.” Van Gaal also looks ahead to the Nations League and the World Cup in Qatar, tournaments that are scheduled for later this year.
“I see the Nations League as preparation for the World Cup, because we have no preparation time at all,” says Van Gaal. “In November we have one week in advance, but not for all players, only the players who are free. But the top players do not come on the first day, so I have to wait for that. I will change a lot with players during the Nations League , not during the game itself, but in the starting line-up.”
At the end of March, the Netherlands will first play two practice matches against Denmark and Germany. “Whether I’m happy with that? I was allowed to designate them myself, so I’m happy with that, yes,” says Van Gaal. “They are top countries, Denmark has even won its group undefeated (in the World Cup qualifiers, ed.). There is always a bit of animosity with Germany, because we are neighboring countries. So it is fantastic to play against.”