Marco van Basten(Netherlands)

Marco van Basten is one of the most prominent and loved Dutch players of all times. This phenomenal Dutch striker was ranked eighth in the election for Football Player of the Century, organized by the France Football magazine. The living legend started his fabulous career at the age of seven, when he joined the club EDO from his hometown Utrecht. The next year Marco moved to UVV Utrecht, where he spent his childhood. In 1982 the young talent was noticed by the greatest Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam and moved there.
During the next five years van Basten won everything possible on the local stage and logically he was transferred to the leading club in Europe at that time AC Milan. With the Italian side he won the most valuable club trophy, the European Cup, twice in 1989 and 1990, as well as a number of trophies in Italy. Meanwhile, Marco van Basten achieved his greatest success winning the European Championship in 1988 with the Dutch national team. The fine striker scored 218 goals in 280 games for Ajax and AC Milan and made 58 appearances for the national team of his country, scoring 24 times. During his remarkable career van Basten was awarded multiple individual prizes, including World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year. In 1992 the genial striker retired from football due to bad injuries and is currently coach of the Dutch national football team.