Marco van Basten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marco van Basten

Van Basten in 2006
Personal information
Full name	Marcel van Basten
Date of birth	(1964-10-31) 31 October 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth	Utrecht, Netherlands
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1970–1971	EDO
1971–1980	UVV
1980–1981	Elinkwijk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1987	Ajax	133	(127)
1987–1995	Milan	147	(91)
Total		280	(218)
International career
1981–1983	Netherlands U21	15	(13)
1983–1992	Netherlands	58	(24)
Managerial career
2003–2004	Jong Ajax (assistant)
2004–2008	Netherlands
2008–2009	Ajax
2012–2014	Heerenveen
2014	AZ
2014–2015	AZ (assistant)
2015–2016	Netherlands (assistant)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Netherlands UEFA European Championship Winner 1988 West Germany Third 1992 Sweden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marcel "Marco" Van Basten (born 31 October 1964) is a famous Dutch former football player and manager. He played as a striker for top clubs like Ajax and AC Milan, and also for the Netherlands national team. Many people think he is one of the greatest players ever.

He scored 300 goals in his amazing career. Sadly, he had to stop playing football at just 28 years old because of a serious ankle injury. He announced his retirement two years later. After his playing career, he became a coach for Ajax and the Netherlands national team.

Van Basten was known for his excellent ball control, smart attacking moves, great headers, and amazing shots, especially volleys. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1992 and the Ballon d'Or three times (1988, 1989, and 1992). With Ajax, he won three Eredivisie titles and the Cup Winners' Cup. With Milan, he won four Serie A titles and two European Cups.

For the Netherlands, Van Basten helped his team win UEFA Euro 1988. He was the top scorer in that tournament with five goals. One of his most famous goals was a spectacular volley in the final against the Soviet Union. This goal is still considered one of the best ever.

In 2004, the legendary player Pelé included Van Basten in his FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Playing Career

Early Football Days

Marco van Basten was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, on 31 October 1964. He started playing football when he was six years old for a local team called EDO. A year later, he moved to another club, UVV Utrecht. Before joining a bigger club, he also played briefly for Elinkwijk.

Time at Ajax

Van Basten celebrates his goal for Ajax against Feyenoord in September 1983.

Ajax signed Marco when he was 16 for the 1981–82 season. He played his first match for Ajax on 3 April 1982. He came on as a substitute for the famous player Johan Cruyff and scored a goal in Ajax's 5–0 win against NEC.

In the 1982–83 season, he scored nine goals in 20 league matches. The next season, Ajax decided to sell their main striker, and 18-year-old Van Basten became the team's key attacker. He was the top scorer in the Dutch league for four seasons in a row, from 1983–84 to 1986–87. He scored an amazing 118 goals in 112 matches during this time.

In the 1985–86 season, he scored 37 goals in just 26 league matches. This earned him the European Golden Boot award. He also scored the winning goal in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in 1987. Overall, he scored 128 goals in 133 league matches for Ajax.

Moving to AC Milan

Van Basten playing for AC Milan.

In 1987, Milan signed Van Basten, along with his Dutch teammate Ruud Gullit. Later, Frank Rijkaard also joined them, forming a powerful Dutch trio. In his first season, Milan won their first Italian league title in eight years. However, Van Basten played only 11 matches due to an ankle injury.

In the 1988–89 season, Van Basten won the Ballon d'Or as Europe's best player. He scored 19 goals in the Italian league and 32 goals in all competitions. He also scored two goals in the European Cup final, helping Milan win the trophy. In the 1989–90 season, he was again the top scorer in the Italian league. Milan also won the European Cup again, beating Benfica 1–0 in the final.

Milan had a tough 1990–91 season, but under new coach Fabio Capello, they went undefeated in the league the next season, winning another title. Van Basten scored 25 league goals, becoming the top scorer once more.

In November 1992, he made history by scoring four goals in a Champions League match against IFK Göteborg. One of these goals was a perfect bicycle kick. In December 1992, Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year. He also won the European Player of the Year award for the third time, joining legends like Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini.

His ankle injury returned in a game against Ancona, forcing him to take six months off for surgeries. He returned for a few matches at the end of the season. His last match for Milan was the Champions League final against Marseille, which Milan lost 1–0.

Van Basten hoped to play in the 1994 World Cup and the 1994–95 season, but his injury kept him out for two full years. On 17 August 1995, he sadly announced his retirement from playing. He made a special appearance at the San Siro stadium to thank the Milan fans, and his coach Fabio Capello was very emotional.

International Career

Van Basten celebrates his hat-trick against England at Euro 88.

Van Basten first played for the Netherlands national football team in 1984.

At UEFA Euro 1988, Van Basten was a key player in the Dutch team's victory. He scored five goals, including three against England in the first round. He also scored the winning goal in the semi-final against West Germany. His most famous goal was a spectacular volley from a difficult angle in the 2–0 final against the Soviet Union. He was the top scorer and named player of the tournament.

The Dutch team did not do well in the 1990 World Cup, losing early to West Germany. Van Basten never scored in a World Cup tournament. At UEFA Euro 1992, the Netherlands reached the semi-finals but lost to Denmark in a penalty shoot-out. Van Basten's penalty was saved. Even though he didn't score in this tournament, he was still included in the Team of the Tournament.

Player Profile

How He Played

Van Basten is seen as one of the greatest and most complete strikers in football history. He was nicknamed the "Swan Of Utrecht" because of his elegant and smart attacking style. He was known for scoring amazing acrobatic goals. His height and strength made him great at heading the ball. His technical skill and quickness allowed him to perform spectacular shots, like volleys and bicycle kicks.

He was a fast and opportunistic striker with quick reactions. He was good at finding loose balls in the penalty area because he could guess what defenders would do. He could control difficult balls with one touch or shoot right away. He had a powerful and accurate shot and could score with either foot or his head. He was also very good at penalty kicks and free-kicks.

Even though he was mostly a traditional striker, Van Basten also had great vision and could pass the ball well. This meant he could play in deeper, more creative roles and help set up goals for his teammates. He was strong and had excellent ball control, which helped him hold the ball for his teammates.

Sadly, Van Basten's career was cut short by many serious injuries. These injuries led to discussions in football about protecting talented players from rough tackles. In 1998, FIFA made a rule that completely outlawed tackles from behind. This rule became known as the "Van Basten law."

What People Said About Him

Many players and coaches have praised Van Basten as one of the best players ever. In 1994, defender Pietro Vierchowod called him "the absolute number one" and a "superstar." He said Van Basten was strong with his head, good with both feet, and could change a game with one play.

Former Arsenal player Tony Adams said in 2006 that Van Basten was the toughest opponent he ever faced. He described him as incredibly fast for his size and great at heading, volleying, and holding up the ball. Adams even put him ahead of Diego Maradona.

Paolo Maldini, a former Milan teammate, called Van Basten the most complete player he ever played with. Former Milan coach Fabio Capello said Van Basten and Ronaldo were the best players he ever coached. His previous coach at Milan, Arrigo Sacchi, called Van Basten the best striker of all time.

Managerial Career

Starting as a Coach

After retiring from playing in 1995, Van Basten initially said he would never become a manager. However, he changed his mind and took coaching courses. His first coaching job was as an assistant for Ajax's second team in 2003–04.

Coaching the Netherlands National Team

On 29 July 2004, Van Basten became the new manager of the Netherlands national team. His former teammate John van 't Schip was his assistant. Some people thought he was too new to coaching for such a big job.

He brought in many new, younger players and left out some experienced ones. His team went unbeaten in their first 16 games. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands were in a tough group but made it to the Round of 16. They were then knocked out by Portugal in a very intense match.

Van Basten (left) with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during training before Euro 2008.

In 2007, Van Basten settled a disagreement with striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who then returned to the national team. Before UEFA Euro 2008, some players chose not to join the team because of disagreements with Van Basten.

At Euro 2008, the Netherlands played incredibly well in the group stage. They beat world champions Italy 3–0 and World Cup runners-up France 4–1. They won all their group matches. In the quarter-finals, they faced Russia, coached by fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink. Russia won 3–1 in extra time, ending the Netherlands' tournament. Van Basten finished his time as national coach with 35 wins, 11 draws, and 6 losses in 52 matches.

Return to Ajax as Manager

Van Basten became the manager of Ajax after Euro 2008. However, he resigned on 6 May 2009 because his team failed to qualify for the Champions League. He had spent a lot of money on new players, but the team's performance dropped in the second half of the season. Ajax finished third in the league.

Coaching Heerenveen and AZ

In 2012, Van Basten became the manager of Heerenveen. He led them to an eighth-place finish in his first season and fifth place the next season. He then moved to AZ in 2014.

At AZ, Van Basten took a leave of absence due to stress-related health issues. In September 2014, he decided to step down as head coach and become an assistant coach instead, as the stress of the main role was too much for him.

Role at FIFA

After his time at AZ, Van Basten became an assistant coach for the Netherlands national team again in 2015. In August 2016, he left that role to take a position at FIFA as a technical director. In this role, he worked on improving football rules and development.

Van Basten (middle) in Tehran, 2018.

Van Basten meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, July 2018.

After Retirement from Coaching

Van Basten has also played in special testimonial matches for other famous players, like Demetrio Albertini and Dennis Bergkamp. He has also worked as a football analyst for TV, sharing his thoughts on games and football issues.

Honours

Van Basten won the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax.

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85
• KNVB Cup: 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1986–87

AC Milan

• Serie A: 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1988, 1992
• European Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
• European Super Cup: 1989, 1990
• Intercontinental Cup: 1989, 1990

Netherlands

• UEFA European Championship: 1988

Individual Awards

• Ballon d'Or: 1988, 1989, 1992
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
• UEFA Best Player of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1992
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1988–89
• Capocannoniere (Serie A Top Scorer): 1989–90, 1991–92
• Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87
• European Golden Boot: 1985–86
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1985
• UEFA Euro 1988: Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1988, 1992
• FIFA 100 (chosen by Pelé): 2004
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2012
• AC Milan Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Marco van Basten para niños