Marco van Basten: Football (Soccer)
Marcel “Marco” Van Basten (born: October 31, 1964) is a legend of Dutch soccer. He became one of the best forwards of all time but had his career cut short by a serious ankle injury. Van Basten made his professional debut match with Ajax in 1982. He led the Dutch league in scoring for four consecutive seasons with AFC Ajax, winning three Ballon d’Or Awards with Italy’s AC Milan. He was only 30 when he quit playing because of an ankle injury but later became the coach of the Dutch national team and the manager of Ajax.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Marco van Basten won three European Player of the Year honor and a FIFA World Player of the Year award. He became Player of the Tournament for Euro 1988 scoring five goals. He is part of Pele’s FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players and Dutch’s 100 Greatest Dutch People in 2004 held in the Netherlands.
Why Was He So Good?
Marco van Basten is one of the greatest strikers in the sport, known for his clinical finishing with scoring acrobatic goals. He can excel in the air, execute extraordinary strikes and was an opportunistic and fast striker. He always possessed a powerful and accurate shot. By 1993, he was being operated for the fourth time because of his injury. He tried to fight the injury for another two years but it became clear that he wasn’t a great footballer like he used to be. But he continued to be one of the most unforgettable and greatest players of the sport.
What You May Not Know
- Marco van Basten and Robin van Persie are two of the greatest Dutch soccer players of all time.
- As of 2012, he became manager of SC Heerenveen after serving as a commentator for Dutch television channel Sport 1.
- From 1983 to 1992, he played 58 matches for the Dutch national soccer team and scored a total of 24 goals.
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Related Pages
- Marco van Basten won the Ballon d'Or in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
- More football players
- About Football (Soccer)
- Athlete Database home
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