So who is he, Louis van Gaal? A former gym teacher with dictatorial tendencies, or a football visionary who has made himself one of Europe's greatest coaches? Wherever he worked, Van Gaal was always accused of being an autocratic disciplinarian and a control freak. A follower of Rinus Michels' total football philosophy, he is a man of contrasts: an extreme individualist, absolutely dedicated to the collective effort. He believes in the team, not the individual. But this is precisely what helped him lead a young Ajax team to victory in the Champions League in 1995. Van Gaal won trophies more than once with Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich, while twice serving as head coach of the Dutch national team. His career is full of color and drama - from quarrels with players to squabbles with the press. Dutch football commentator Maarten Meyer wrote a comprehensive biography of Van Gaal, dedicated to both the personality of the coach and his methods. This is the most accurate portrait yet of the man who tried to bring back the best of Manchester United.