Louis van Gaal to return as Ajax technical trainer

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Former Ajax coach Louis van Gaal will return to the club as technical director in November, the club said Friday.

Van Gaal, 52, was fired as Barcelona coach last season after the team fell to the bottom half of the table in Spain's Primera Division.

As Ajax coach in the early and mid-1990s Van Gaal led the club to numerous successes, including three Dutch national titles, the UEFA Cup in 1992 and the Champions League title in 1995.

Ajax general director Arie van Eijden said Van Gaal would work "to further refine Ajax's youth program," and oversee scouting, medical, and training staff. His on-field traning duties will be limited.

"I would never have given up my coaching ambitions for another club," said Van Gaal at a press conference Friday, adding that he planned to end his career with Ajax, which he called his "old nest."

"I was born and bred here, I've had triumphs and sorrow here, and I didn't want to let this chance to return go by."

Ajax's current coach Ronald Koeman was Van Gaal's assistant during the first of Van Gaal's two stints at Barcelona, from 1997-2000.

Van Gaal replaces former technical director Leo Beenhakker, who left Ajax in June and later became coach at Mexican team America.

An Amsterdam native, Van Gaal played for Ajax's reserve team in the early 1970s and also had an unsuccessful spell in charge of the Dutch national side, failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.