This article will tell the story of legendary football player Marco van Basten. His career at Ajax, Ac Milan and the Dutch national team will all be a topic. Learn the story of this glorious 3 times ballon d’ors winner and the struggle of injury. Also watch the best goal he has ever made!
The start of his career
Marco van Basten was born on 31e October of 1964 in Utrecht. Untill the age of 15 he played for local clubs in Utrecht. At The age of 16 however he managed to get a contract at the Dutch club of legends Ajax. In the same season of 1981–1982 he played his first minutes for ajax. At his debut he got substituted onto the pitch, for another Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, and managed to score straight away. This proved to be a start of many more stunning goals for the striker at Ajax which gave him the name “The Swan of Utrecht”.
“San” Marco at Ajax
Marco van Basten played 6 years for Ajax in the period 1981–1987. In this period he made 172 appearances for the club and managed to score 152 times. Marco managed to become the top scorer of the Dutch competition 4 years in a row! His goal scoring ability was not limited to the Dutch competition but also in the European cup games. Marco van Basten won the Europan Golden boot award in 1986–1987. With a goal in the final of that year’s Uefa Cup versus Lokomotive Leipzig. After this last season Marco became too big for Ajax and had numerous options for a move.
“San” Marco at Ac Milan
In November of 1987 Ac Milan signed the Dutch striker Marco van Basten. A signing they would not regret. Marco played 201 matches for Ac Milan and managed to score 125 times. This was in a period of 8 years’ time between 1987–1995. Marco came into an Ac Milan team with 2 other Dutch players forming “The Big 3”. The other 2 Dutch players were Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit. The chemistry these three players possessed became pure magic on the field. The legends of this trio will forever live in the hearts of many Italian’s. His time at Ac Milan resulted in 2 additional Champions league’s and 3 ballon d’ors. Van Basten was also chosen as FIFA world player of the year in 1992. Further solidifying his status at Ac milan.
Injury
In the season of 1986–1987 Marco got injured on his ankle. This happened during a match between Groningen & Ajax. Marco van Basten lost possession of the ball and in attempt to get it back made a tackle that would forever haunt him throughout his career. Despite crying on the pitch he kept playing on. However it was winter break and Ajax took no action regarding his injury. So the best striker in Europe at that time did not get treated for his broken ankle until a few month later. His ankle made him play very little games in a 2 year period and would be the cause of his early retirement from the sport.
Must watch the defining goal of his career
This goal describes Marco van Basten in less then 30 seconds. One of the goals of the century.
