Marco van Basten, celebrated for his extraordinary goals and achievements in football, faced an early career end at 28 due to injury. The Dutch striker, who turns 60, led the Netherlands to their only international title in Euro 1988, becoming the tournament’s top scorer. His successful years at AC Milan included multiple championships and Ballon d’Or awards. Despite a troubled coaching career and controversies post-retirement, van Basten remains an iconic figure in football history.
Marco van Basten’s illustrious career is defined by spectacular goals, remarkable achievements, and a host of individual accolades, even though his playing days were cut short by injury at the tender age of 28. This Thursday, he celebrates his 60th birthday.
The apex of van Basten’s remarkable tournament came during the Euro 1988 final, held in front of 72,000 fans at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Earlier in the tournament, he netted a hat-trick against England, securing a 3-1 victory for the Netherlands, and followed it up with a stunning last-minute winner against Germany in the semi-finals, clinching a 2-1 win.
With five goals in five matches, the player affectionately known as the ‘Swan of Utrecht’ not only became the tournament’s top scorer but also led the Dutch national team to their first and only international title to date.
Van Basten’s Golden Era at AC Milan
The tournament in Germany marked the beginning of van Basten’s most successful chapter. Although he had previously enjoyed significant success with Ajax Amsterdam in the early 1980s, where he won multiple domestic titles and became the top scorer in the Eredivisie, it was during his tenure at AC Milan that the major accolades began to accumulate.
Van Basten secured three Serie A championships, celebrated two European Cup titles, and was named the league’s top scorer on two occasions. Highlighting his individual brilliance, he won the Ballon d’Or in 1988, 1989, and 1992, and was honored as the World Footballer of the Year in 1992, a title he had initially claimed in 1991. Throughout his 201 matches with Milan, he achieved an incredible tally of 125 goals and 49 assists.
Early Retirement Due to Injury
Despite his numerous accomplishments, van Basten’s career was marred by persistent injuries, particularly in his right ankle. Issues began late in his last season with Ajax and worsened during his first year at Milan, necessitating surgery that sidelined him for a significant period. He appeared in just 19 matches for the ‘Rossoneri’ before returning just in time for the European Championships in 1988.
Although he enjoyed relative health for several seasons thereafter, the pain intensified again. In the 1992/93 season, he underwent yet another operation, managing to return just in time for the Champions League final against Olympique Marseille, where he played 85 minutes in a 1-0 loss. This match marked the abrupt end of his career at just 28 years old.
Final Retirement in August 1995
Van Basten faced further ankle injuries, forcing him to retire prematurely in August 1995 after several unsuccessful attempts at comebacks. Ironically, Munich, a city that witnessed his most iconic goal and performance, became the backdrop for the conclusion of his remarkable career.
In a 2020 interview with the BBC, van Basten reflected on his injuries, stating, “All the pain I had wasn’t worth it. My ankle caused so many problems that it affected my daily life. But at that time, soccer was my whole life. Now I’m older, I’ve led a life without soccer. You can still have a good life – there’s more to it than soccer.”
Transition to Coaching and Broadcasting
Following his retirement, van Basten stayed connected to the sport through coaching. From 2004 to 2008, he managed the Dutch national team, but his tenure ended without progressing beyond the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup and the quarter-finals at the 2008 European Championship. His coaching roles at Ajax Amsterdam, SC Heerenveen, and AZ Alkmaar also faced challenges, compounded by health issues that limited his capacity to continue.
In 2015, he returned to the national team as an assistant coach but shifted to a technical director position at FIFA less than a year later. In a 2021 interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, he expressed his feelings, stating, “As a player, soccer gave me fulfillment – despite all the pain I went through. Working as a coach didn’t give me that.”
Controversies and Current Role
In 2019, van Basten made headlines again as a TV pundit when he was involved in a controversy surrounding a Nazi salute directed at Frank Wormuth, then-coach of Heracles Almelo. Following an immediate apology, his association with FoxSports was temporarily suspended