Van Gaal back with Netherlands

Louis van Gaal has been appointed Holland coach until the 2014 World Cup, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) have announced.



It marks the 60-year-old's second spell in charge of the national time, having also led them between 2000 and 2002.



Van Gaal takes the reins from Bert van Marwijk, who stepped down last week following Oranje's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign.



"I am pleased the KNVB have approached me," Van Gaal said on the Dutch FA website. "This is the challenge I have waited for."



Holland arrived in Poland and Ukraine as one of the favourites for the title having finished runners-up to Spain at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.



However, they failed to get out of a Group B containing Germany, Denmark and Portugal, losing all three of their matches to finish at the bottom of the table.



Van Marwijk then confirmed his resignation on June 27 following a number of meetings with the KNVB.



The task now falls to Van Gaal, who boasts a wealth of experience in coaching.



During a six-year spell with Ajax, he led them to Champions League success in 1994/95, as well as three league titles, a league cup and the UEFA Cup in 1991/92.



Van Gaal also won two Primera Division titles in charge of Barcelona and coached AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich to league triumphs before being sacked by the latter in April 2011 - his last managerial post.



The 60-year-old will be assisted by former Holland defender Danny Blind, and hoping for a more successful time than his first spell in charge of Oranje, when they failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.



KNVB director Bert van Oostveen is in no doubt Van Gaal is the right man for the job, having beaten off competition from Guus Hiddink, Ruud Gullit and Co Adriaanse.



"We are delighted to be working with each other," he said.



"We looked for a trainer with a wealth of experience and who stood out on both a personal and professional level.



"Van Gaal has a proven track record nationally and internationally and we know him to be a devoted and very passionate coach."



Van Gaal's first match in charge will be the friendly against neighbours Belgium on August 15, before their World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way the following month at home to Turkey.

Van Basten rules out return

Marco van Basten insists he has no interest in returning to manage Holland after the departure of Bert van Marwijk following the team's woeful performance at the European Championship.



Van Marwijk stood down as coach last week after the Oranje slunk home from the tournament in Poland and Ukraine without a single point, despite having been tipped by some to be title contenders.



Van Basten was Holland coach between 2004 and 2008, guiding them to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the European Championship two years later, where they lost to Russia, who were led by fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink.



The 47-year-old then spent a season as Ajax boss before resigning after failing to take them into the Champions League.



Earlier this year it was announced he would return to the game by succeeding Ron Jans as coach of Eredivisie side Heerenveen this summer.



Having just started work with Heerenveen, who finished fifth last season, the former AC Milan forward has no interest in the position of national team coach.



He told AD Sportwereld: "I am now in Heerenveen and I am very satisfied.



"Who should it be? Also I have not thought about that.



"I have my thing here in Heerenveen. For the rest I will not interfere anymore. "

Robben hints at dutch unrest

Holland winger Arjen Robben has hinted dressing-room unrest undermined their Euro 2012 challenge, which ended following a third successive defeat.



The Dutch went to Poland and Ukraine among the favourites to lift the trophy but failed to pick up a point in Group B, losing to Denmark, Germany and Portugal.



The future of coach Bert van Marwijk is now under scrutiny and his chances of staying in the role will not be helped by revelations of disharmony among the players.



Bayern Munich star Robben told Voetbal International: "Of course there were some internal issues but we will keep them indoors.



"But believe me we tried everything, it's just not worked."



While Dutch fans were quick to search for a scapegoat, Robben insisted it was a collective failure.



"The hunger in the team is there," he added, "but we failed together. And I mean the technical staff, the players, the whole team.



"This is the harsh reality of the sporting world. We must all, therefore, look in the mirror."



Captain Mark van Bommel, who was dropped for Sunday night's clash with the Portuguese, admitted the atmosphere in the squad was different to that at the 2010 World Cup when Oranje made it to the final only to lose in extra-time to Spain.



The 35-year-old said: "I am captain and will always protect my players but the atmosphere was different than two years ago. Why that was I don't know, I can only speak for myself, not the other guys."



Things started brightly for Holland on a night when they had to win by two clear goals and hope Denmark lost to Germany as Rafael van der Vaart put them in front.



But Ronaldo netted a brace for Paulo Bento's men, who joined the Germans in going through following their 2-1 defeat of Denmark.



Van der Vaart said: "I knew it would be difficult. We had to score two goals. We started off really well and scored one goal, but we knew we had to score another one, so we got nervous.



"After our first goal, Portugal began to play very well, and we didn't. We all played badly; we all have to take a good, long look in the mirror. All we can say is that it's sad for our supporters.



"We lost all confidence after losing the game against Denmark, and so today against Portugal we knew it could go wrong, and so it did. We have to start all over again."

Van Nistelrooy announces retirement

Malaga striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35.



The former Holland international has suffered a difficult year since arriving in the south of Spain from Hamburg last summer, scoring just five times in 32 appearances.



However, he did help guide Malaga to their first ever top-four finish and thereby ensure Champions League football for the first time in their history.



Van Nistelrooy told a press conference on Sunday: "Yesterday was my final game as a professional footballer. I wanted to play in the Champions League, but it is the moment to leave.



"I have arrived at my physical limit and I can't play at the maximum level. I couldn't have had a better send-off than this.



"I feel happy that I am the one taking this decision. I would like to thank Malaga, the technical and medical staff for an unforgettable year.



"I am proud to have won collective and individual titles, but my greatest satisfaction was to be able to work day after day, year after year."



Van Nistelrooy also paid tribute to those people who supported him during his career, which included spells with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real Madrid.



"I would like to thank Malaga, my team-mates, the coaches, the physios, (sporting director) Antonio Fernandez, Fernando Hierro and the fans for this unforgettable year," said the Dutchman.



"I would also like to thank the fans of Den Bosch, Heerenveen, PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Hamburg."



Van Nistelrooy's career began in his homeland with Den Bosch before moves to Heerenveen and PSV Eindhoven, where he made his name.



After securing the Eredivisie Golden Boot in both the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons, he seemed set to join Manchester United in a near £19 million move.



However, United called off the transfer due to fitness concerns and within days Van Nistelrooy ruptured cruciate knee ligaments during a training session.



That injury did not dissuade United manager Sir Alex Ferguson though, as he went back for Van Nistelrooy the following summer and was duly rewarded as the striker delivered 150 goals in 219 games in his five seasons in Manchester and guided them to the title in 2002/03.



However, Van Nistelrooy's time in north-west England ended when he fell down the pecking order and was snapped up by Real Madrid in the summer of 2006.



He hit the ground running in the Spanish capital as 53 goals in two seasons saw Real capture back-to-back Primera Division titles.



But once again injuries took their toll as he missed almost the entire 2008/09 campaign with a meniscus problem and then found himself behind Raul, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema the following season.



An 18-month spell at Hamburg followed before returning to Spain and Malaga for his final season as a professional.



Van Nistelrooy also bagged 35 goals in 70 international appearances for Holland, including strikes at Euro 2004, World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008 and is the second highest all-time goalscorer in the Champions League with 54 from 81 appearances.



His final appearance for Malaga resulted in a 1-0 victory over Sporting Gijon.