| 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 came back 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
Champions 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. Unsurprisingly he was elected European
Footballer of the Year.
Over the next two seasons Van Basten inspired Milan to 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.
The 1990 World Cup in Italy however proved to be a disaster. Van Basten failed to scored and the
Dutch team, favourites for the tournament, scraped through the group stages before falling 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 and 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, just as he was playing the greatest football in an already great
career his fragile right ankle once again failed him, in a league match against Ancona. Van Basten
was rushed back to play in the 1993 European Cup final. Loaded 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 £2.5 million a year. During this time Van Basten met with FIFA officials to
discuss possible rule changes. In 1994, just before the World Cup, the foul from behind was banned,
earning the perpetrator an instant red card and more importantly saving the careers of many players.
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 before returning in 2002 in a
coaching role with first club Ajax.
A powerfully built player with explosive pace and World Class athleticism. Scoring spectacular goals,
in particular volleys and overhead kicks, were his trademark. 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. |
Netherlands