Louis van Gaal, the former Manchester United manager, has announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

Van Gaal is the coach of the Netherlands national team, which will compete in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

This is the first time the well-traveled football manager has discussed his ailment in public.

On RTL's 'Humberto' show on Sunday evening, the Dutchman discussed the illness.

The former Bayern Munich coach revealed that he has kept it a secret and that he has been having therapy while continuing to manage the Dutch national team.

He claimed he had withheld this from his teammates.

"I believe you don't tell individuals you work with things like that because it can affect their decisions, so I did."

"Prostate cancer does not kill you, at least not in ninety percent of cases." Other underlying disorders are usually the ones that kill you. However, I was in an aggressive shape and was irradiated 25 times. Then you have to manage a lot of things in order to get through life." In the hospital, I did receive special treatment. When I went to an appointment, I was let in through the back door and immediately ushered into another room. I've been handled exceptionally well.

"Of course, you'll tell your friends and family about it." The fact that nothing has come out yet also speaks to my surroundings. That's fantastic."