Amsterdam – Louis van Gaal said Thursday he would take no players from the newly-crowned Dutch champion AZ Alkmaar to Bayern Munich when he takes over as coach of the Bundesliga club.

Dutch media had reported that van Gaal was interested in taking Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero and Dutch midfielder Stijn Schaars with him to Bayern for next season.

Van Gaal, 57, who is to sign a two-year contract with Munich beginning from July 1, thanked AZ for releasing him from his contract which ran until 2010.

“I wanted to leave in a proper manner,” he told a news conference.

Van Gaal, who won a host of titles including the Champions League with Ajax and two league titles with Barcelona, has led AZ to the Dutch league title this season.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Louis van Gaal, a very experienced and successful coach, to FC Bayern Munich,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said after announcing the appointment Wednesday.

AZ officials have unconditionally released the coach, Bayern said. As a thank-you, the German team will visit Alkmaar for a friendly, provisionally scheduled for summer 2010, without an appearance fee. (dpa)