Marco van Basten is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1964, van Basten began his career with Ajax before moving on to play for AC Milan, where he enjoyed the most successful period of his career. He was known for his incredible technical ability and his incredible goalscoring instincts, and is considered one of the greatest finishers in the history of the game.
Club Career
Van Basten began his professional career with Ajax in 1981, where he quickly established himself as one of the brightest prospects in Dutch football. He won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax, and was the league’s top goalscorer in the 1984-85 season. In 1987, he made a high-profile move to AC Milan, where he would spend the next six seasons.
At AC Milan, van Basten’s career reached new heights. He won three Serie A titles with the club, as well as three European Cups. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1988, 1989 and 1992, the only Dutch player to ever win the award three times. He was the top scorer in the European Cup in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.
International Career
Van Basten also had a successful international career with the Netherlands national team. He made his debut for the Dutch in 1983, and went on to score 24 goals in 58 appearances for his country. He was a key player for the Netherlands in the 1988 European Championship, where they finished as runners-up to the Soviet Union. He was also part of the Netherlands team that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup.
Retirement and Legacy
Van Basten’s career was unfortunately cut short by injury. He retired from professional football in 1995 at the age of 30. In total, he scored 318 goals in a career that spanned just 14 years. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, and his incredible goalscoring record speaks for itself.
Career Statistics
| Club | Years | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajax | 1981-1987 | 112 | 128 |
| AC Milan | 1987-1995 | 147 | 125 |
International Career Statistics
| National Team | Years | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1983-1992 |
Honors:
3x Eredivisie Top Scorer
3x European Golden Shoe
3x Ballon d’Or
2x UEFA European Championship Top Scorer
1988 European Championship Golden Boot
1988 European Championship Winner
1989 Serie A Top Scorer
1989 UEFA Cup Winner
1990 UEFA Super Cup Winner
3x UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Winner
4x Dutch Footballer of the Year
AC Milan Hall of Fame
FIFA 100
IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer of the 20th Century (3rd place)
UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll (2nd place)
UEFA Team of the Century
World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time