Robust posture, fast footsteps, a gold touch, to the flexibility and acrobatic abilities all belong to Marco van Basten. The football passion which apparently inherited from the legend (Johan Cruyff) seemed to flow in the blood of this player.
Speaking of Marco van Basten, certainly, the old football lovers will not forget how spectacular this 188cm man in flicking the goal of the Soviet Union. The Dutch coach at the time, Rinus Michels, was unable to digest the moment of genius created by the former AC Milan.
At that time, the cross-bait from Arnold Muhren was welcomed by Basten with a world-class volleyball. He kicked it from a narrow-angle until it led to a far post.
The goal that ultimately led the Dutch to dominate Europe was also named as one of the best goals in football history.
Marco van Basten is indeed one of the world’s best strikers. He even entered into the list of 100 best players in the history of the version of the legendary footballer, Pele.
In the 1980s to the late 1990s, he was a goal and trophy attacker. Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan, and the Dutch national team were made successful by him. No wonder because of 373 matches, he scored 277 goals successfully. Together with Basten, Ajax Amsterdam successfully won the Eredivise title three times, namely in 1981/82, 1982/83, and 1984/85. Not only that, three KNVB Cups and one UEFA Cup Winners were also successfully donated by this 54-year-old man.
After triumphing with the capital club, Basten then continued his brilliant career in Italy. At that time, AC Milan was chosen as a lucky club.
Just like in Ajax, Van Basten’s insanity also continued in the city of fashion. Arguably, his career during AC Milan’s uniform became the best in his life. There, he managed to win 3 Serie A titles, 2 Super Coppa, 2 Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, and 2 Intercontinental Cups. For individual titles, Basten successfully crushed three Ballon D’or awards at once.
His greatness was also recognized directly by the legendary coach, Arrigo Sacchi. Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi acknowledged that Marco van Basten is still the best striker of all time.
“Marco van Basten, in my opinion, is still the best striker of all time. There is no other striker who works as hard for his team as Marco did in Milan, ”
“In several years in a row, he won Ballon d’Or three times and I’m still very proud of him about that. Van Basten had a big influence on my first adventure in Milan thanks to his goals. ”
“I can truly say that Milan in the late 1980s was one of the most extraordinary teams in the history of football.”
“Above all, I remember him because of his extraordinary grace, grace, and qualities. I remember well when he first came to Milan. He is very young with great talent. “Sacchi (quoted from Italian football)
Yes, the comments that came out from the bald coach were true. Although cruel in front of the goal, Basten is still known for his elegance.
The Dutch writer, Zeger van Herwaarden, in his book “Marco van Basten: De Jaren in Italic en Orange” explains, as an attacker, Van Basten is not the type of footballer who likes pleasantries. He grew to become a notorious footballer.
Van Basten’s cruelty as a footballer was realized with effective play, but still beautiful. Because of that, the public gave him the nickname of the Geese from Utrecht.
Unfortunately, Van Basten’s glorious career must end early. He declared early retirement on August 17, 1995, when he was 30 years old because of being injured by an ankle injury for two years.
His injury was obtained when Milan competed against Angola in the 1992/93 Serie A competition. This is not the first time Basten received a serious injury. Moreover, he does have a congenital injury. However, it is this injury that makes him have to move from one operating table to another operating table.
After briefly stepping aside from the field and working on his recovery for more than two years, Basten finally declared his surrender and resigned as a footballer.
At that time accompanied by Adriano Galliani, Van Basten, announced to the media about his retirement as a footballer due to an ankle injury that could no longer be cured.
Van Basten, the swan from Utrecht, resigned as a footballer at his age which is still relatively productive.
After officially deciding to retire, Van Basten finally returned to the field as a coach. After briefly filling the position of technical director at FIFA, Van Basten finally resigned and chose to spend his time with family.
