Who is Marco van Basten?
David Craig
Updated on March 14, 2026
Who is Marco van Basten?
Marco van Basten achieved a ludicrous amount in a relatively short career. The Dutchman was a distant, exotic, orange superstar. Who’s this then? Marcel van Basten is now 56 years old and was a 6ft 3ins Dutch striker who had a relatively short, 12-season, injury-blighted career playing for just two clubs: Ajax and Milan.
What happened in Van Basten’s last Champions League final?
The room seems very white, with muted colours in the backdrop, and a residue of sadness lingers. Van Basten points out that his last match, the 1993 Champions League final when Milan lost 1-0 to Marseille, was in the same Olympic Stadium in Munich where he won the European Championship final against the Soviet Union in 1988.
How many goals did van Basten score for the Netherlands?
Alongside his Milan teammates Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, Van Basten scored five goals for the Netherlands, including a memorable hat-trick against England and decisive strikes in the semi-final and the final, as the Dutch became European champions.
What was van Basten’s relationship with Cruyff like?
One of the most fascinating themes of Van Basten’s book is his close relationship with Cruyff. His face softens when he remembers the first time he saw his idol in person. “It was a really special moment. I was 15 and he came out of the stadium.
Van Basten managed Ajax, Heerenveen and the Dutch National team during his years as a manager. Marco van Basten was born on 31, October, 1964 in Utrecht, Netherlands to Joop van Basten and his wife Leny van Basten.
How do you pronounce Marco van Basten’s name?
Marcel “Marco” van Basten (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑrkoː vɑn ˈbɑstə(n)] (listen); born 31 October 1964) is a Dutch football manager and former professional football player, who played for Ajax and A.C. Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, as a striker.
When did van Basten become manager of the Netherlands?
Van Basten became the manager of the Dutch national team in 2004, and he guided the squad to the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup. He left that position after the Netherlands was upset in the quarterfinals of the 2008 European Championship and was then named manager of Ajax.
How old was Marco Basten when he signed for Ajax?
Van Basten lifting the 1987 KNVB Cup for Ajax. Ajax signed 16-year-old Marco for the 1981–82 season after his 19-year-old brother Stanley was rejected. Their father Joop had kept the younger son at another club with the hope that Ajax will take Stanley in professionally.