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Marcel "Marco" van Basten (Dutch pronunciation: (About this soundlisten); born 31 October 1964) is a Dutch football manager and former professional player, who played for Ajax and A.C. Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, as a striker. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He scored 300 goals in a high-profile career, but played his last match in 1993 at age 28 due to an injury which forced his retirement two years later. He was later the head coach of Ajax and the Netherlands national team.
Known for his close ball control, attacking intelligence, impeccable headers, and spectacular strikes and volleys, Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992 and won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1988, 1989 and 1992. At club level, he won three Eredivisie titles and the Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax, and four Serie A titles and three European Cups with Milan. With the Netherlands, Van Basten won UEFA Euro 1988 where he earned the Golden Boot, scoring five goals, including a memorable volley in the final against the Soviet Union.
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. He was also 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, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. 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. In 2007, Sky Sports ranked Van Basten first on its list of great athletes who had their careers cut short.
Career Honours Italian Supercoppa Italiana 1994 _Retired Soccer | Italian Serie A 1993-1994 Milan | Italian Supercoppa Italiana 1993 Milan | Italian Serie A 1992-1993 Milan | Italian Supercoppa Italiana 1992 Milan | FIFA Ballon d Or 1992 Milan | FIFA The Best 1992 Milan | Italian Serie A 1991-1992 Milan |
Italian Serie A Capocannoniere 1991-1992 Milan | FIFA Club World Cup 1990 Milan | UEFA Super Cup 1990 Milan | UEFA Champions League 1989-1990 Milan |
Italian Serie A Capocannoniere 1989-1990 Milan | UEFA Super Cup 1989 Milan | FIFA Club World Cup 1989 Milan | FIFA Ballon d Or 1989 Milan |
UEFA Champions League 1988-1989 Milan | Italian Supercoppa Italiana 1988 Milan | FIFA Ballon d Or 1988 Milan | UEFA European Championship 1988 Netherlands |
Italian Serie A 1987-1988 Ajax | Bravo Award 1987 Ajax | Dutch KNVB Cup 1986-1987 Ajax | UEFA Cup Winners Cup 1986-1987 Ajax |
Dutch KNVB Cup 1985-1986 Ajax | European Golden Shoe 1985-1986 Ajax | Dutch Eredivisie 1984-1985 Ajax | Dutch Eredivisie 1982-1983 Ajax |
Dutch KNVB Cup 1982-1983 Ajax | Dutch Eredivisie 1981-1982 Ajax |
Career Milestones
UEFA European Championships Hat-Trick 1988-06-15 |
Former Youth Teams Former Senior Teams
1981-1987 |
1983-1992 |
1987-1995 |
Former Club Staff
2004-2008 Manager |
2008-2009 Manager |
2012-2014 Manager |
2014-2014 Manager |
2014-2015 Assistant Manager |
2015-2016 Assistant Manager |
Contracts FanartBanner|
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| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1992-1993 | 15 |
| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1992-1993 | 1 |
| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 5 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1992-1993 | 3 |
| Milan | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 2 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1992-1993 | 13 |
| Milan | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 6 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1992-1993 | 1,253 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1992-1993 | 90 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1992-1993 | 430 |
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| Milan | Appearances | Supercoppa Italiana | 1992 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1992 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1992 | 4 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1992 | 4 |
| Netherlands | Assists | International Friendlies | 1992 | 1 |
| Milan | Goals | Supercoppa Italiana | 1992 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | International Friendlies | 1992 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1992 | 390 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Supercoppa Italiana | 1992 | 90 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1992 | 270 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1992 | 180 |
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| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1991-1992 | 7 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1991-1992 | 31 |
| Milan | Assists | Coppa Italia | 1991-1992 | 2 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1991-1992 | 11 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1991-1992 | 25 |
| Milan | Goals | Coppa Italia | 1991-1992 | 4 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1991-1992 | 2,665 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1991-1992 | 564 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1991 | 5 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1991 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1991 | 437 |
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| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1990-1991 | 1 |
| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1990-1991 | 2 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1990-1991 | 31 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1990-1991 | 7 |
| Milan | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1990-1991 | 1 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1990-1991 | 11 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1990-1991 | 173 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1990-1991 | 2,755 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1990-1991 | 90 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1990 | 3 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1990 | 4 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1990 | 4 |
| Milan | Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 1990 | 1 |
| Milan | Assists | FIFA Club World Cup | 1990 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 1990 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1990 | 6 |
| Netherlands | Goals | International Friendlies | 1990 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1990 | 360 |
| Milan | Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 1990 | 90 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1990 | 270 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1990 | 303 |
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| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 7 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1989-1990 | 26 |
| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1989-1990 | 4 |
| Milan | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 2 |
| Milan | Assists | Coppa Italia | 1989-1990 | 1 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1989-1990 | 2 |
| Milan | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 3 |
| Milan | Goals | Coppa Italia | 1989-1990 | 1 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1989-1990 | 19 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1989-1990 | 2,330 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1989-1990 | 690 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1989-1990 | 344 |
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| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Super Cup | 1989 | 2 |
| Milan | Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 1989 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1989 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 4 |
| Milan | Goals | UEFA Super Cup | 1989 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | International Friendlies | 1989 | 1 |
| Milan | Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 1989 | 120 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Super Cup | 1989 | 180 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1989 | 90 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1989 | 290 |
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| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1988-1989 | 4 |
| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 9 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1988-1989 | 33 |
| Milan | Assists | Coppa Italia | 1988-1989 | 1 |
| Milan | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 2 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1988-1989 | 8 |
| Milan | Goals | Coppa Italia | 1988-1989 | 3 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1988-1989 | 19 |
| Milan | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 10 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1988-1989 | 315 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1988-1989 | 2,919 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1988-1989 | 840 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1988 | 5 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1988 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1988 | 2 |
| Milan | Appearances | Supercoppa Italiana | 1988 | 1 |
| Milan | Assists | Supercoppa Italiana | 1988 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Assists | UEFA European Championships | 1988 | 2 |
| Milan | Goals | Supercoppa Italiana | 1988 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1988 | 5 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1988 | 388 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1988 | 119 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Supercoppa Italiana | 1988 | 90 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1988 | 180 |
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| Milan | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1987-1988 | 3 |
| Milan | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1987-1988 | 5 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1987-1988 | 11 |
| Milan | Assists | UEFA Cup | 1987-1988 | 1 |
| Milan | Assists | Coppa Italia | 1987-1988 | 2 |
| Milan | Goals | Coppa Italia | 1987-1988 | 5 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1987-1988 | 3 |
| Milan | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1987-1988 | 270 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1987-1988 | 450 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1987-1988 | 564 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1987 | 3 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1987 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1987 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1987 | 260 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1987 | 90 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1986-1987 | 7 |
| Ajax | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1986-1987 | 9 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1986-1987 | 27 |
| Ajax | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1986-1987 | 9 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1986-1987 | 7 |
| Ajax | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1986-1987 | 6 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1986-1987 | 31 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1986-1987 | 2,292 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1986-1987 | 628 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1986-1987 | 797 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1986 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1986 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Goals | International Friendlies | 1986 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1986 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1986 | 180 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1986 | 180 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1985-1986 | 2 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1985-1986 | 6 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1985-1986 | 26 |
| Ajax | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1985-1986 | 4 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1985-1986 | 37 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1985-1986 | 2 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1985-1986 | 180 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1985-1986 | 456 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1985-1986 | 2,229 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1985 | 3 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1985 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 1985 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1985 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1985 | 90 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1985 | 270 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1984-1985 | 1 |
| Ajax | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1984-1985 | 4 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1984-1985 | 33 |
| Ajax | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1984-1985 | 19 |
| Ajax | Assists | UEFA Cup | 1984-1985 | 1 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1984-1985 | 22 |
| Ajax | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1984-1985 | 5 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1984-1985 | 390 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1984-1985 | 2,862 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1984-1985 | 90 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1984 | 3 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1984 | 241 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1983-1984 | 26 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1983-1984 | 3 |
| Ajax | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1983-1984 | 2 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1983-1984 | 28 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1983-1984 | 3 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1983-1984 | 286 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1983-1984 | 210 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1983-1984 | 2,242 |
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| Netherlands | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1983 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Appearances | UEFA European Championships | 1983 | 2 |
| Netherlands | Goals | UEFA European Championships | 1983 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Goals | International Friendlies | 1983 | 1 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | UEFA European Championships | 1983 | 180 |
| Netherlands | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1983 | 45 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1982-1983 | 20 |
| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1982-1983 | 5 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1982-1983 | 9 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1982-1983 | 1 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1982-1983 | 1,081 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1982-1983 | 315 |
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| Ajax | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1981-1982 | 1 |
| Ajax | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1981-1982 | 1 |
| Ajax | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1981-1982 | 44 |
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