Marco van Basten

Marco van Basten is a Dutch former professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the history of the sport. Born on October 31, 1964, in Utrecht, Netherlands, Van Basten began his professional career with Ajax in 1982, where he won three consecutive Eredivisie titles and the European Cup in 1987. His impressive performances earned him a move to AC Milan in 1987, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles and the European Cup in 1989 and 1990. Throughout his career, Van Basten was known for his exceptional technical ability, speed, and clinical finishing. He was a prolific goal-scorer, netting over 200 goals in his professional career. Van Basten was also an integral part of the Dutch national team, helping the Oranje reach the 1988 European Championship final and the 1992 European Championship semi-finals. After retiring from professional football in 1995, Van Basten went on to become a successful coach, managing the Dutch national team from 2004 to 2008 and winning the 2006 UEFA European Football Championship.