Profession: Soccer Star
Biography: Marco van Basten is a Dutch professional football player renowned for his success with Ajax, AC Milan, and the Netherlands national team, as well as being a three-time Ballon d'Or winner. Van Basten's career was prematurely ended by an injury, but he remained a significant figure in football both as a coach and technical director.
Van Basten began his professional career at Ajax, where he made his debut as a replacement for Johan Cruyff. He rose to prominence quickly, securing four Eredivisie top scorer titles consecutively. At Ajax, he won several domestic trophies and a European Cup Winners' Cup.
Moving to AC Milan, he continued his success, clinching multiple Serie A and European titles, and earning individual accolades such as the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
Internationally, van Basten was pivotal to the Netherlands team that won UEFA Euro 1988. His memorable volley in the final remains one of the iconic moments in football history. Hs career was cut short due to a severe ankle injury, however, with his last game in 1993 and his retirement coming two years later.
Following retirement, van Basten transitioned into coaching, beginning as an assistant at Ajax and then as the head coach of the Netherlands national team. His coaching career included roles at various clubs and a position as FIFA's technical director. He contributed to the game beyond coaching as an analyst and faced some controversies, including a suspension for an inappropriate comment on live TV.
Despite his later experiences, van Basten is best remembered for his playing days. His influence is seen in the rule changes for player protection against dangerous tackles, known as the "Van Basten law." He is also recognized as one of the greatest footballers ever, appearing in the FIFA 100 list and often featuring on greatest player lists.
Born: October 31, 1964
Birthplace: Utrecht, Netherlands
Age: 59 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Scorpio
Historical Events
- 1982-04-03 Marco van Basten plays his first match for Ajax, scoring a debut goal in a 5-0 victory over NEC
- 1988-06-25 UEFA European Championship Final, Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany: Ruud Gullet & Marco van Basten score as the Netherlands beats Soviet Union, 2-0
- 1988-12-27 Ballon d'Or: Milan 1-2-3; Dutch striker Marco van Basten wins his 1st of 3 best football player in Europe awards ahead of Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard
- 1989-12-26 Ballon d'Or: Milan's second straight 1-2-3; Dutch striker Marco van Basten wins his 2nd best football player in Europe title ahead of Franco Baresi and Frank Rijkaard
- 1992-12-22 Ballon d'Or: Milan's Dutch striker Marco van Basten wins his 3rd title as best football player in Europe ahead of Barcelona forward Hristo Stoichkov and Ajax forward Dennis Bergkamp
- 1995-08-17 Marco van Basten announces his retirement from professional football
- 2004-07-29 Marco van Basten is named the manager of the Netherlands national team
- 2008-02-22 Marco van Basten signs a four-year contract with Ajax, starting from 1 July
- 2009-05-06 Marco van Basten resigns as manager of Ajax after the team fails to qualify for the Champions League
- 2012-02-13 Marco van Basten is announced as the manager of Heerenveen for the 2012-13 season
- 2014-04-18 Marco van Basten is announced to replace Dick Advocaat as the manager of AZ Alkmaar at the start of the 2014-15 season
Abby Wambach
Gerd Müller
Jamie Vardy
Lewis Koumas
Paul Pogba
Paulo Dybala