Kirjahaku

So who is Louis van Gaal? An inflexible ex-PE teacher who only knows how to act like a dictator or a footballing visionary that has made him one of the greatest ever European managers? Wherever he has gone, Van Gaal has been accused of being a domineering disciplinarian and a control freak. He is certainly, by his own admission, a man who leaves nothing to chance. A disciple in the 1970s of Rinus Michels’ Total Football philosophy, he is a fascinating contradiction – an ultra-individualist utterly devoted to the collective effort. He believes in the team over the individual, in always having a plan and a team prepared to follow it. Van Gaal led the young Ajax team he moulded to Champions League glory in 1995, went on to win titles across Europe with Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich and served two stints as national coach of Holland. It is a career that has never been short on colour and drama – from fallouts with players to rants at the media wherever he has managed. Dutch football commentator Maarten Meijer’s has written the definitive biography of van Gaal – both the man and his methods. It offers the best psychological insight so far – from his earliest roots to his greatest triumphs – into the man given the task of returning the glory days to Manchester United.**New chapter on Louis van Gaal's first season with Manchester United**

'Meijer's portrait is definitive'iNews'Ten Hag may just be the man to bring the glory days back'Daily StarWho is Erik ten Hag? Calm and cool-headed, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the 'process' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic. There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail.At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years.Maarten Meijer's definitive biography follows Erik ten Hag, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside to his domestic triumphs and European victories. Meijer's book is the ultimate guide to the man with the momentous task of ending a decade of disappointment at Manchester United, and beginning a new era of great and winning football.

'A superb biography'The Times'Meijer's portrait is definitive'iNews'Ten Hag may just be the man to bring the glory days back'Daily StarWho is Erik ten Hag? Calm and cool-headed, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the 'process' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic. There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail.At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years. And throughout his first season at Manchester United, he has more than made his mark. He's brought a winning spirit to the club and silverware back to the trophy cabinet.Maarten Meijer's definitive biography follows Erik ten Hag, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside to his domestic triumphs and European victories. Meijer's book is the ultimate guide to the man with the momentous task of beginning a new era of great and winning football.

Arne Slot: The Biography is the definitive portrait of the Dutch manager who took on one of the toughest jobs in football – succeeding Jürgen Klopp – and delivered a Premier League triumph in his first season at Liverpool FC. Slot had proven himself in the Netherlands – leading AZ Alkmaar to a second-place finish and delivering Feyenoord their first title in six years. With a bold, high-pressing style and sharp mind, he had earned a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest managerial prospects.When Klopp’s era ended in 2024, Anfield held its breath. But Slot stepped into the void with calm authority and tactical brilliance. By Christmas, Liverpool were top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables, having lost just once. Key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai found renewed form under his leadership. Slot ushered in a new era of confidence and cohesion at Anfield.In this richly detailed biography, acclaimed Dutch author Maarten Meijer traces Slot’s journey from the quiet village of Bergentheim to the Premier League summit. He unpacks the methods, mentality and rise of a coach who has already lifted his first major English trophy and whose vision and leadership are reshaping Liverpool’s future.

Arne Slot has been tasked with a role at the helm of one of the most prestigious clubs in the game: Liverpool FC. Having showcased his ability to compete at the top tier of Dutch football, he brings his tactical acumen and characteristically aggressive, high pressing football from the Eredivisie to the Premier League. Slot delivered remarkable performances at more than one club in the Netherlands and garnered a reputation for consistently exceeding expectations. Under his innovative leadership, AZ Alkmaar finished second in the league – and that only on goal difference – when the season was abandoned in 2020 due to Covid. In 2021, Slot took the reins at Feyenoord and led them to their first league title in six years. In four short years, he cemented his status as one of the most promising managerial talents in Europe. Maarten Meijer’s biography delves into Arne Slot’s roots, from the tiny village of Bergentheim in the Netherlands, to the formidable task of following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp, his iconic predecessor at Liverpool FC. With confidence borne from a career of success and a complete faith in the football he wants to play, Slot is ready to make his mark at Anfield and continue the legacy of excellence.