Former Ireland manager Vera Pauw joins Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff by receiving prestigious award

Former Ireland manager Vera Pauw has joined an illustrious list of legendary names by receiving the Dutch Coaches’ Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pauw, who led the Girls in Green to their first ever World Cup qualification, was presented with the award by former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink.

The award has previously been presented to legendary bosses such as Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff.

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Pauw was given the honour for being ‘the founding mother of the women's game in The Netherlands’, according to Raymond Verheijen on X (formerly Twitter).

She reacted in a post, writing: “I am extremely proud of this award. I am so grateful to be recognized for the content of my work. It is something I will cherish forever.”

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