Legends - Marco Van Basten

San Marco

Thinking of Dutch players, after the legendary Johan Cryff, the next player that comes to mind is another great player and an outstanding striker - Marco Van Basten. Van Basten played for Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan in the 1980s and early 1990s and is regarded as one of the finest strikers of all time and scored 276 goals in a career cut short by injury.

By 1986 he was the top marksman in Europe, winning the European Golden Boot award. With van Basten leading their attack, Ajax lifted two Dutch Championships, two Dutch Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Known for his strength on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular volleys, he scored 24 times for Holland, his finest being the classic looping volley that ensured Holland's only international triumph in the Euro Championships in 1988.

He joined compatriots Gullit and Rijkaard in AC Milan in 1988 and that set off the golden period for the mighty Italian club. In 1989, Milan destroyed Romanian Champions Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the final in Barcelona. Van Basten got two of the goals. In his time at the club, he helped AC win 4 Italian league titles, 3 European Cups and 3 European Super Cups, among others.

His career was cut short by a chronic ankle injury and he retired from the game in 1995. As the present Dutch coach, he has established himself as a man of strong principles. He has left out underachieving superstars from the national team and brought in unknown but talented youngsters, and was vindicated when Holland qualified for the World Cup top of their group.

Van Basten was indeed a truly delightful footballer and one of the finest strikers of all time.

Individual Honors:
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
World Footballer of the Year: 1988, 92
European Footballer of the Year: 1988, 89, 92.