The Dutchman, who has also managed Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax, as well as the Dutch national team, was given the prize at the National Sports Centre Papendal in The Netherlands.

He guided his country to a third-placed finish at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, and he has won numerous trophies at club level, including the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and back to back La Liga titles with Barcelona in 1998 and 1999.

The 63-year-old has also had success in Germany, winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2010.

Van Gaal joins former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge in 2012, and former Netherlands Olympic Committee President Erica Terpstra, who received it in 2014, on the illustrious list of winners.

"For me this award is very special since I have personally known Anton for many years," Van Gaal said.

"Anton and I have the same character and we have both struggled, although with different resistances."

Anton Geesink shocked the world when he took gold in Judo's Olympic debut at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo ©Getty Images



The award itself is named after one of the most famous names in Judo as Geesink triumphed against all the odds when judo became an Olympic sport at the 1964 Games in Tokyo.

The Japanese judokas were widely expected to sweep the medals when the sport made its debut, but Geesink proved they could be beaten as he took gold in the openweight category.

His superb victory in Tokyo came after he etched his name into the history books by becoming the first non-Japanese winner of the World Championships back in 1961.

Geesink retired in 1967 before he became a member of the IOC, and he was posthumously inducted into the IJF Hall of Fame in 2013 following his death in 2010 at the age of 76. 

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August 2010: Judo legend and IOC member Anton Geesink dies