After missing out on reaching the 2018 World Cup, and having underachieved with a second round exit at Euro 2020, the Dutch Football Association sought to tempt Louis van Gaal out of retirement for one last assignment: reach Qatar 2022.
Van Gaal had been in charge when the Netherlands finished third at Brazil 2014, losing out to runners-up Argentina on penalties in the semi-finals and trouncing the tournament hosts in the third/fourth-place play-off.
His second appointment has paid off spectacularly so far, too, with the Dutch finishing top of Group G, two points clear of second-placed Turkey.
The goals flowed throughout, with Memphis Depay’s haul of 12 putting him seven clear at the top of the group scoring charts, five ahead of Norway talisman Erling Haaland.