50 Facts About Marco Van Basten

Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and retired professional player, who played for Ajax and AC Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, as a striker.

Marco Van Basten was later the head coach of Ajax and the Netherlands national team.

In 1998, Van Basten was ranked sixth in the FIFA Player of the Century internet poll, tenth in the European player of the Century election held by the IFFHS and 12th in the IFFHS' World Player of the Century election.

Marco Van Basten was voted eighth in a poll organised by the French magazine France Football, consulting their former Ballon d'Or winners to elect the Football Player of the Century.

In 2004, a poll for the 100 greatest Dutch people was held in the Netherlands: Van Basten ranked number 25, the second highest for a football player, behind Johan Cruyff.

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Marco van Basten was born on 31 October 1964 in Utrecht and grew up in the Oog In Al neighborhood.

Marco Van Basten began playing for a local team, EDO, when he was six years old.

Ajax chose to sell Kieft to Italian Serie A club Pisa the following season, and 18 year old Van Basten solidified his position as his team's main attacker similarly in the national team.

Marco Van Basten scored the winning goal in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final against Lokomotive Leipzig in 1987.

Marco Van Basten scored 19 goals in Serie A and 32 goals in all competitions that year, including two goals in the final of the European Cup, as Milan triumphed against Steaua Bucuresti.

Marco Van Basten's early retirement was a mortal misfortune for him, for football, and for Milan.

Marco Van Basten was again voted the European player of the year, becoming the third player after Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to win the award three times.

Marco Van Basten came off in the 86th minute for Stefano Eranio, after a hard tackle behind from Basile Boli condemned Van Basten to the third ankle surgery of his career.

Marco Van Basten finally conceded defeat in his battle to recover on 17 August 1995, when he announced his retirement as a player after two whole years on sidelines.

Van Basten made a farewell appearance to thank the Milan fans before a home game at the San Siro, with an emotional Milan coach Fabio Capello breaking down in tears.

Marco Van Basten made his senior debut for the Netherlands national team that same year.

At UEFA Euro 1988, Van Basten played a pivotal role in the Dutch team's victorious campaign.

Marco Van Basten finished the competition as the top scorer and was named player of the tournament.

Van Basten was named to the European Championship Player Of The Tournament for a second time in 1992.

Van Basten played in the Demetrio Albertini testimonial match at the San Siro in March 2006, and headed in a goal before being substituted early in the first half.

Marco Van Basten played in the second half for the Ajax legends team.

Marco Van Basten entered the match as part of a double substitution that introduced Johan Cruyff.

Marco Van Basten took part in Tyskie's advertising campaign with Luis Figo and Zbigniew Boniek.

Marco Van Basten was ranked 25th in a poll for the 100 greatest Dutch people.

In 2016 Van Basten was included in UEFA's All-time Euro XI, while in 2017, he was named the 13th greatest player of all time by FourFourTwo.

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Marco Van Basten was a big personality not only as a sportsman, but as a private person.

Marco Van Basten was a big milestone in my career and for me he is one of the players who are the most outstanding personalities of the last century.

Marco Van Basten stood and I delivered and then I stood and he delivered.

Marco Van Basten was as quick as Ian Wright, as good in the air as Joe Jordan and he held the ball up better than Alan Smith.

Marco Van Basten stopped playing at only 28 years of age, which is truly young.

One of the most marketable players in the world, in the late 1980s Diadora launched his own personalized football boots, the San Siro Van Basten, earning him two million dollars over 5 years.

Van Basten officially left Milan in 1995 and retired from football, stating he would never try management.

On 29 July 2004, Van Basten was named the new manager of the Netherlands national team, with Van 't Schip as his assistant.

Van Basten famously dropped regulars like Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Roy Makaay and benched Mark van Bommel, because he believed that they were either past their prime or constantly underachieving.

Van Basten then revealed to the media that he never intended to do so, despite Bergkamp's own willingness.

Van Basten had wanted to include Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou, but was thwarted when Kalou was denied Dutch citizenship by the immigration authorities headed by Dutch Minister of Integration Rita Verdonk.

Van Basten was heavily criticised for dropping Ruud van Nistelrooy before this match, in favour of Dirk Kuyt, who did not score throughout the entire tournament.

In November 2006, Van Basten recalled exiled Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf for a friendly against England at the Amsterdam Arena.

In May 2007, Van Basten announced the end of his long-running dispute with Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had previously declared never to play for a Dutch national squad with Van Basten as its manager.

Van Basten had a contract with the KNVB for managing the Dutch national side until 2008.

On 22 February 2008, Van Basten signed a four-year contract with Ajax, starting from 1 July.

Marco Van Basten finished his reign with a record of 35 wins, 11 draws and six losses in 52 matches.

Van Basten became manager of Ajax after Euro 2008 but resigned on 6 May 2009 after his team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Van Basten started the season well, having spent millions on players such as Miralem Sulejmani, Ismail Aissati, Dario Cvitanich, Evander Sno, Eyong Enoh and Oleguer.

Van Basten subsequently became a pundit for Sport1, but was still planning to return as a manager.

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Marco Van Basten finished his reign with a record of 26 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses in 45 matches.

Marco Van Basten finished his reign with a record of 27 wins, 18 draws and 27 losses in 72 matches.

On 28 August 2014, Van Basten took a leave of absence for the following match against Dordrecht, with multiple Dutch news outlets reporting he was suffering of stress-related heart palpitations, and was replaced by assistant coaches Alex Pastoor and Dennis Haar.

Marco Van Basten finished his stint with two wins and three losses in five matches.

In March 2018, Van Basten travelled to Iran with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to mark 100 years of the Iran Football Federation.