50!
30-07-2004, 00:20
Marco van Basten has been formally announced as the new coach of Holland.
The legendary striker, whose glittering career was cruelly cut short by injury, is taking over from Dick Advocaat, who bowed out after the Euro 2004 exit at the hands of Portugal.
Van Basten and his number two, John van't Schip, will be presented to the media next week but the KNVB have released details of their agreement with the former Milan marksman.
The 39-year-old is universally acclaimed as one of the best players of his generation after starring for the Rossoneri alongside fellow countrymen Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard.
He won three European Cups and four Scudettos after also enjoying plenty of success with Amsterdam giants Ajax.
Of his 24 goals for his country, the spectacular volley in the 1988 European Championship final against USSR was surely the most memorable.
The Dutchman also picked up three European Footballer of the Year awards and was twice World Footballer of the Year.
Is this some sort of trend? Klinsmann becomes German manager and Van Basten becomes the Dutch. Are they any good at managing or they just got the job because they are footballing legends in their countries. Maybe England should have one of their Legends as the Manager. It would be quite funny to see Lineker, John Barnes or Gazza as the England manager just for comedy value. But there is already an England manager thread so was it right to appiont Van Basten as the Dutch manager??
The legendary striker, whose glittering career was cruelly cut short by injury, is taking over from Dick Advocaat, who bowed out after the Euro 2004 exit at the hands of Portugal.
Van Basten and his number two, John van't Schip, will be presented to the media next week but the KNVB have released details of their agreement with the former Milan marksman.
The 39-year-old is universally acclaimed as one of the best players of his generation after starring for the Rossoneri alongside fellow countrymen Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard.
He won three European Cups and four Scudettos after also enjoying plenty of success with Amsterdam giants Ajax.
Of his 24 goals for his country, the spectacular volley in the 1988 European Championship final against USSR was surely the most memorable.
The Dutchman also picked up three European Footballer of the Year awards and was twice World Footballer of the Year.
Is this some sort of trend? Klinsmann becomes German manager and Van Basten becomes the Dutch. Are they any good at managing or they just got the job because they are footballing legends in their countries. Maybe England should have one of their Legends as the Manager. It would be quite funny to see Lineker, John Barnes or Gazza as the England manager just for comedy value. But there is already an England manager thread so was it right to appiont Van Basten as the Dutch manager??