Marco van Basten

Marco van Basten (born October 31, 1964 in Utrecht) is a former Dutch football player who played for Ajax Amsterdam and A.C. Milan in the 1980s. He is regarded as one of the finest strikers of all time and scored 276 goals in a career cut short by injury, known for his strength on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular volleys. He is currently the coach of the Dutch national team.

Playing career

Van Basten played very briefly for Elinkwijk before Ajax signed him. He played his first game for Ajax in April 1982 and was proclaimed the new Johan Cruijff.

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In 1987 Silvio Berlusconi brought van Basten to Milan along with Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard joining them in 1988. In his first season Milan won their first scudetto (league championship) in eight years, but Van Basten played only eleven games and was constantly troubled by an ankle injury. Despite this, in {{Ec|88}} van Basten had a dazzling run of form, including three goals against England and a spectacular volley in the final against the Soviet Union.

Related Topics:
Silvio Berlusconi - Ruud Gullit - Frank Rijkaard - England - Soviet Union

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Helped by his form in international competition, van Basten had an excellent season in 1988-89, winning European Footballer of the Year and scoring nineteen goals in Serie A as well as helping Milan demolish Steaua Bucharest to win the European Cup. In 1989-90 he was Capocannoniere (Serie A's leading goal scorer) and Milan defended their European Cup successfully. The Dutch national side had a very poor World Cup in 1990, finally going out to West Germany in the second round.

Related Topics:
European Footballer of the Year - Serie A - Steaua Bucharest - European Cup - Dutch national side - 1990 - West Germany

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Milan's 1990-91 European season was ruined in the semi-final against Olympique Marseille and the club received a year long ban from European football. Van Basten had been banned for four matches earlier in the competition following a cynical elbowing offense. Domestically the club's season was also disappointing and Sampdoria won the scudetto. Van Basten fell out with Milan's manager Arrigo Sacchi and Berlusconi sacked Sacchi to placate him. Undistracted by European football in 1991-92 and managed by Fabio Capello, Milan did not lose a single game in the league and won the championship, Van Basten scoring 25 goals and becoming Capocannoniere again. Internationally the Dutch went out of {{Ec|92}} to Denmark in a penalty shootout, van Basten missing one.

Related Topics:
Olympique Marseille - Sampdoria - Arrigo Sacchi - Fabio Capello - Denmark - Penalty shootout

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Milan stretched their unbeaten run into the 1992-93 season, going 58 matches in total before they lost a game. Van Basten played exceptionally well in the early part of the season and was voted European Player of the Year for a third time before his troublesome ankle injury recurred in a game against Ancona. Van Basten underwent another in a series of operations and returned to Milan for the final few domestic games before they lost the Champions League final to Marseille. The final was van Basten's final game for Milan; despite enormous effort, he was unable to recover from his injuries.

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