 |
 |
|
 |
3 x Dutch League : 1981-1982,
1982-1983, 1984-1985 |
|
Season |
Team |
Games |
Goals |
Position |
|
1981-82 |
Ajax |
1 |
1 |
1st |
|
1982-83 |
Ajax |
20 |
9 |
1st |
|
1983-84 |
Ajax |
26 |
28 |
3rd |
|
1984-85 |
Ajax |
33 |
22 |
1st |
|
1985-86 |
Ajax |
26 |
37 |
2nd |
|
1986-87 |
Ajax |
27 |
31 |
2nd |
|
1987-88 |
Milan |
11 |
3 |
1st |
|
1988-89 |
Milan |
33 |
19 |
3rd |
|
1989-90 |
Milan |
26 |
19 |
2nd |
|
1990-91 |
Milan |
31 |
11 |
3rd |
|
1991-92 |
Milan |
31 |
25 |
1st |
|
1992-93 |
Milan |
15 |
13 |
1st |
|
|
Ajax |
133 |
128 |
0.96 GPG |
|
|
Milan |
147 |
90 |
0.61 GPG |
|
|
Cup Winners Cup |
9 |
6 |
0.67 GPG |
|
|
European Cup |
27 |
18 |
0.67 GPG |
|
|
UEFA Cup |
7 |
5 |
0.71 GPG |
|
|
Netherlands |
58 |
24 |
0.41 GPG |
|
|
Totals |
381 |
271 |
0.71 GPG |
| Milan President Silvio Berlusconi sat down with
Vice President Adriano Galliani in front of a television set and searched for a new striker. After watching 10 of Van Basten's goals, Berlusconi stopped the videotape and told Galliani to sign him. Van Basten arrived at the San Siro having scored the winning goal in the 1987 Cup Winners Cup final and an incredible 128 goals in 133 league games for Ajax. He struggled with injury in his first season in Serie A but returned in time to score the winning goal in a crucial 2-3 victory away to Napoli which effectively sealed the Championship for Milan. The following month during the 1988 European Championship in Germany he established himself as the best striker in the World. Having watched from the bench as the Dutch fell to Russia in their opening match, Van Basten started the next game against England and scored a hat-trick, the first and so far only player since the great Ferenc Puskas to do so. He then scored the winning goal in a dramatic semi-final victory over hosts Germany and in the final against Russia made the opening goal for Ruud Gullit and then scored what is generally considered to be one of the greatest goals of all time. From an impossible angle on the right side of goal Van Basten blasted a spectacular volley into the top left corner of the net. To this day it remains one of the most replayed goals in football history. Unsurprisingly he was elected European Footballer of the Year. Over the next two seasons Van Basten was a key figure in Arrigo Sacchi's all conquering Milan side, winning two successive European Cups, European Super Cups and Intercontinental Cups. He scored two goals in the 1989 European Cup final and made the winning goal for Frank Rijkaard in the 1990 European Cup final. Van Basten and his fellow Dutchmen at Milan (Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard) were expected to win the 1990 World Cup in Italy but, admit rumours of internal conflict, fell to arch rivals Germany in the second round. Van Basten's World Cup hang-over continued throughout the following season. He was sent off for a violent elbow in a Champions League match and subsequently missed Milan's exit at the hands of Marseille. Frustrated with Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi's insistence of playing him as the lone striker in attack he apparently gave President Silvio Berlusconi a him or me ultimatum - Sacchi left to coach Italy. In 1991 under new coach Fabio Capello, Van Basten played some of the best football of his career. He starred in a 5-0 victory over arch rivals Napoli. Scored three hat-tricks. With the championship already won Milan trailed UEFA Cup hopefuls Foggia 1-2 at half time and needed to avoid defeat to become the first team in Serie A history to win a Championship without losing a match. Van Basten scored twice and made several more as Milan ran out 2-8 winners. Despite a personal best domestic season for Milan, Van Basten would once again face frustration with the Dutch national team in the 1992 European Championships. He failed to score in the tournament and missed the crucial penalty in a semi-final shoot out against eventual winners Denmark. Form for the national team aside Van Basten continued his sensational performances throughout the remainder of 1992. He scored a hat-trick as Milan fought back from a three goal deficit to defeat Pescara 4-5. Scored twice in a 3-7 thrashing of a Fiorentina team featuring a young Gabriel Batistuta and Stefan Effenberg and scored four goals away to Napoli. His four goals against IFK Gothenburg in a Champions League match, including a trademark overhead kick, earned him his third European Footballer of the Year award. A feat only matched by Michel Platini and his idol Johan Cruijff. Just as he had reached his very peak his fragile right ankle once again failed him. He injured it in a league match against Ancona but was rushed back to play in the 1993 European Cup final. Riddled with painkillers, he missed a glut of chances. A murderous foul from behind in the second half by Basile Boli ended his career. Over the next two years Van Basten underwent several ankle operations while Milan still paid his wages, thought to be what was at the time a record £2.5 million a year. Following discussions with Van Basten, FIFA, the World game's governing body, 'banned' the tackle from behind on the eve of the World Cup finals though implementation of this rule remains inconsistent. Van Basten 'officially' retired in 1995 having played his last game for Milan in 1993. Despite calls for him to go into management he distanced himself from the game for almost a decade before making an expected return in 2002 in a coaching role with first club Ajax. Even more surprising was his appointment as Dutch national team coach after Euro 2004. Scoring spectacular goals, in particular volleys and overhead kicks, were his trademark. Van Basten was a tall, strong, quick player blessed with World Class athleticism. A complete forward - dangerous with both left and right foot, sensational in the air and equally adept at making goals as well as scoring them. His performances in big matches, particularly finals, were nothing short of outstanding. Arguably the greatest striker in the history of this sport, unquestionably one of the greatest players of all time. Key Attributes : Goalscoring, flair, athleticism |