Editing Marco van Basten (section)

==Managerial career==

===Jong Ajax===
Van Basten officially left Milan in 1995 and retired from football, stating he would never try management. However, he changed his mind and took a course with the [[Royal Dutch Football Association]] (KNVB). His first stint as a manager was as an assistant to his former teammate [[John van 't Schip]] with the second team of Ajax in 2003–04.

===Netherlands===
On 29 July 2004, Van Basten was named the new manager of the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]], with Van 't Schip as his assistant.<ref name="Van Basten given Dutch reins">{{Cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jul/29/newsstory.sport11|title= Van Basten given Dutch reins|work= The Guardian|date= 29 July 2004|access-date= 17 September 2008|archive-date= 1 August 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200801220830/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jul/29/newsstory.sport11|url-status= live}}</ref> Van Basten's appointment as manager of the Netherlands sparked a little controversy at the time, since he only just started his managerial career and the media argued that he did not have a lot of experience yet.<ref name="Van Basten given Dutch reins"/>

[[File:Van Basten Oranje.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|left|Van Basten while manager of the Netherlands.]]
After [[UEFA Euro 2004]], veterans [[Frank de Boer]] and [[Jaap Stam]] retired from international football, while [[Michael Reiziger]] retired after being left out of Van Basten's first squad. Van Basten also omitted [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]] from that squad, as the striker was suspended for the first two games of [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]] and Van Basten only wanted to use players eligible for those games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reiziger retires from Dutch cause |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0254-0d7b478c5212-04fd55a6d476-1000--reiziger-retires-from-dutch-cause/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=UEFA |date=2 August 2004}}</ref> His debut on 18 August was a 2–2 draw away to [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]].<ref>{{cite news |title=International round-up |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3575478.stm |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2004}}</ref> Van Basten dropped more experienced players such as [[Roy Makaay]], [[Clarence Seedorf]], [[Patrick Kluivert]] and [[Edgar Davids]], while sending several inexperienced [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ]] players to the World Cup, including [[Joris Mathijsen]], [[Denny Landzaat]] and [[Kew Jaliens]]. Several veterans, including [[Edwin van der Sar]], [[Phillip Cocu]] and [[Mark van Bommel]], did make the squad.<ref name=christenson>{{cite news |last1=Christenson |first1=Marcus |title=Van Basten striving for togetherness |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/04/worldcup2006.sport46 |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=4 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup Team Checks: The Netherlands |url=https://www.dw.com/en/world-cup-team-checks-the-netherlands/a-1937664 |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=18 March 2006}}</ref> His team went unbeaten in their first 16 games until losing a friendly 3–1 at home to [[Italy national football team|Italy]] on 12 November 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy fight back to beat the Dutch |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/11/12/netherlands.loss/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=CNN |date=12 November 2005}}</ref>

The Netherlands were widely tipped to do well at the 2006 World Cup, having achieved the highest points average of any team in qualification, as well as breaking their reputation for in-fighting, and having a short journey to the finals in Germany.<ref name=christenson/> The team were in [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group C|Group C]], considered the [[Group of death]] by international media for also containing [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] and [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia & Montenegro]], the last of whom conceded only one goal in qualification.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup 'Group of Death' is Tournament's Most Unpredictable Round |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-05-18-voa60/329432.html |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=Voice of America |date=18 May 2006}}</ref> The Netherlands were eliminated in a [[Battle of Nuremberg (2006 FIFA World Cup)|1–0 loss]] to [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in the Round of 16, with both teams receiving two red cards each.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Michael |title=Holland exit in acrimony as four see red |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/26/worldcup2006.match3 |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=26 June 2006}}</ref>

[[File:Van basten huntelaar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.13|Van Basten (left) with [[Klaas-Jan Huntelaar]] during training prior to Euro 2008.]]
In November 2006, Van Basten recalled Seedorf for a friendly against [[England national football team|England]] at the [[Amsterdam Arena]]. He denied allegations that he had caved in to media pressure to name Seedorf in place of the injured [[Wesley Sneijder]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch coach rejects Seedorf jibe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6149724.stm |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2006}}</ref> In May 2007, Van Basten announced the end of his long-running dispute with Van Nistelrooy, who had previously declared never to play for a Dutch national squad with Van Basten as its manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25052007/1/ruud-makes-peace-marco.html |title=Ruud makes his peace with Marco |publisher=yahoo sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629185946/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25052007/1/ruud-makes-peace-marco.html |archive-date=29 June 2007 }}</ref>

Van Basten had a contract with the KNVB for managing the Dutch national side until 2008. The KNVB had expressed its wishes to extend his contract to include the World Cup qualification route to [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] in South Africa. On 22 February 2008, Van Basten signed a four-year contract with Ajax, starting from 1 July.<ref name="Van Basten takes Ajax role">{{cite news | url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11913_3183560,00.html | title = Van Basten takes Ajax role | publisher = Sky Sports | access-date = 6 April 2010 | date = 22 February 2008 | archive-date = 7 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121007103420/https://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11913_3183560,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref> His [[UEFA Euro 2008]] selection was marred by Seedorf refusing to join the 30-man provisional squad unless Van Basten resigned, with Van Bommel having already made the same ultimatum.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seedorf refuses to play for van Basten |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0513/231784-holland/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=RTÉ |date=6 June 2008}}</ref>

At the tournament in Austria and Switzerland, the Netherlands  beat [[2006 FIFA World Cup final|world champions]] Italy 3–0 in their first match,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7bf228ae0c-4c0f0150ca38-1000--euro-2008-l-italia-parte-male-l-olanda-cala-il-tris/|title=L'Italia parte male, l'Olanda cala il tris|trans-title=Italy start badly, Holland score three|publisher=UEFA|language=it|author1=Paolo Menicucci|date=10 June 2008|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref> followed by a 4–1 win over [[2006 FIFA World Cup final|World Cup runners-up]] [[France national football team|France]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/13/euro2008.euro2008groupc3 |title=Holland 4-1 France |work=The Guardian |last1=Murray |first1=Scott |date=13 June 2008 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221120453/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/13/euro2008.euro2008groupc3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In their third match, having already qualified for the next round, Van Basten selected non-regulars such as [[Maarten Stekelenburg]], [[Wilfred Bouma]] and [[Ibrahim Afellay]] for the starting lineup against [[Romania national football team|Romania]], a match the ''Oranje'' won 2–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7363393.stm |title=France 0-2 Italy & Netherlands 2-0 Romania |work=BBC Sport |last1=Chowdhury |first1=Saj |date=17 June 2008 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107104539/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7363393.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In the quarter-finals, Van Basten faced fellow Dutchman [[Guus Hiddink]]'s [[Russia national football team|Russia]]. With the score at 1–1 after 90 minutes, Hiddink and Russia went on to win the match 3–1 in extra-time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7363505.stm |title=Netherlands 1-3 Russia (aet) |work=BBC Sport |last1=Stevenson |first1=Jonathan |date=21 June 2008 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713134830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7363505.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished his reign with a record of 35 wins, 11 draws and six losses in 52 matches.<ref name="Marco van Basten: Why stress prompted manager to leave role">{{cite news|author1=Lawrence, Amy|author2=Jongsma, Michiel|title=Marco van Basten: Why stress prompted manager to leave role|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30854083|access-date=25 February 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2015|archive-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124001327/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30854083|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Return to Ajax===
Van Basten became manager of Ajax after Euro 2008 but resigned on 6 May 2009 after his team failed to qualify for the [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]].<ref name="Marco van Basten resigns as Ajax coach">{{cite news|title=Marco van Basten resigns as Ajax coach|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/5285475/Marco-van-Basten-resigns-as-Ajax-coach.html|access-date=25 February 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 May 2009|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801221308/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/5285475/Marco-van-Basten-resigns-as-Ajax-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Van Basten started the season well, having spent millions on players such as [[Miralem Sulejmani]], [[Ismaïl Aissati]], [[Darío Cvitanich]], [[Evander Sno]], [[Eyong Enoh]] and [[Oleguer Presas|Oleguer]]. However, in the second half of the season, striker [[Klaas-Jan Huntelaar]] left for [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], and Van Basten started switching around his lineups. When Ajax lost 11 points in four matches, the [[List of Dutch football champions|Eredivisie title]] was out of sight. However, Ajax still had the chance to finish in second place, which would have ensured a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Two important losses against PSV (6–2) and Sparta Rotterdam (4–0), however, ensured that Van Basten's Ajax could only finish third in the league. Van Basten decided to resign as Ajax manager at the end of the [[2008–09 Eredivisie|2008–09]] season. Van Basten subsequently became a pundit for [[Sport1 (Netherlands)|Sport1]], but was still planning to return as a manager. He finished his reign with a record of 26 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses in 45 matches.<ref name="Marco van Basten: Why stress prompted manager to leave role"/>

===Heerenveen===
On 13 February 2012, it was announced that Van Basten would become the manager of Eredivisie club [[SC Heerenveen|Heerenveen]] in the [[2012–13 Eredivisie|2012–13 season]].<ref name="Heerenveen schnappt sich van Basten">{{cite news|title=Heerenveen schnappt sich van Basten|url=https://www.kicker.de/heerenveen-schnappt-sich-van-basten-564242/artikel|access-date=26 February 2015|publisher=kicker|date=13 February 2012|language=de|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134500/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/564242/artikel_heerenveen-schnappt-sich-van-basten.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Van Basten led Heerenveen to an eighth-place finish in the 2012–13 year campaign. He then led them to a fifth-place finish the following season, during the [[2013–14 Eredivisie|2013–14 campaign]]. He finished his reign with a record of 27 wins, 18 draws and 27 losses in 72 matches.<ref name="Marco van Basten: Why stress prompted manager to leave role"/>

===AZ===
[[AZ Alkmaar]] announced on 18 April 2014 that Van Basten would replace [[Dick Advocaat]] at the start of the [[2014–15 Eredivisie|2014–15 season]].<ref name="Van Basten übernimmt bei AZ Alkmaar">{{cite news|title=Van Basten übernimmt bei AZ Alkmaar|url=https://www.kicker.de/van-basten-uebernimmt-bei-az-alkmaar-603043/artikel|access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=18 April 2014|language=de|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102108/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/603043/artikel_van-basten-uebernimmt-bei-az-alkmaar.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 August 2014, Van Basten took a leave of absence for the following match against [[FC Dordrecht|Dordrecht]], with multiple Dutch news outlets reporting he was suffering of stress-related heart palpitations, and was replaced by assistant coaches [[Alex Pastoor]] and Dennis Haar.<ref>{{ cite news |url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-health-issues-sideline-az-coach-van-basten-111226443--sow.html |publisher=Yahoo! Eurosport |title=European Football - Health issues sideline AZ coach van Basten |access-date=3 September 2014 |date=28 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226085615/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-health-issues-sideline-az-coach-van-basten-111226443--sow.html |archive-date=26 February 2015 }}</ref><ref name="3sept_1">{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-dutch-vanbasten-idUKKBN0GY16220140903 |work=Reuters |title=Van Basten given time to recover from health problems |access-date=3 September 2014 |date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201061246/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-dutch-vanbasten-idUKKBN0GY16220140903 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="3sept_2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/03/marco-van-basten-az-alkmaar-health-concerns |work=The Guardian |title=AZ Alkmaar coach Marco van Basten takes break due to health concerns |access-date=3 September 2014 |date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903234232/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/03/marco-van-basten-az-alkmaar-health-concerns |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, on 3 September, AZ confirmed that Van Basten was given an extended leave of absence until 14 September.<ref name="3sept_1" /><ref name="3sept_2" /> On 16 September 2014, parties agreed Van Basten would relinquish his role as manager in order to sign a new contract as assistant coach until 2016; this was motivated by Van Basten himself, who stated the stress caused by his full-time role as head coach was causing him physical and mental issues.<ref name="Eredivisie: Marco van Basten is to step down as AZ Alkmaar boss due to health issues">{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/9472668/eredivisie-marco-van-basten-is-to-step-down-as-az-alkmaar-boss-due-to-health-issues |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Eredivisie: Marco van Basten is to step down as AZ Alkmaar boss due to health issues |access-date=16 September 2014 |date=16 September 2014 |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226090415/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/9472668/eredivisie-marco-van-basten-is-to-step-down-as-az-alkmaar-boss-due-to-health-issues |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished his stint with two wins and three losses in five matches.<ref name="Marco van Basten: Why stress prompted manager to leave role"/>

===FIFA technical director===
[[File:Marco van Basten in Tehran.jpg|thumb|Van Basten (middle) in Tehran, 2018]]

After a year at AZ, Van Basten decided to take up the vacant post of assistant coach under the new head coach of the Netherlands national team, [[Danny Blind]].<ref name="FIFA role"/> Van Basten would work together with fellow assistant coach [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]], whom Van Basten had initially sent away when he was head coach of the Netherlands. In August 2016, Van Basten announced he would be leaving the role to take up a position at [[FIFA]] as technical director.<ref name="FIFA role">{{cite news|title=Van Basten quits Netherlands role for FIFA|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12021/10557971/marco-van-basten-quits-netherlands-role-for-fifa|agency=Sky Sports|date=2 October 2016|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003101820/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12021/10557971/marco-van-basten-quits-netherlands-role-for-fifa|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2018, Van Basten travelled to Iran with FIFA president [[Gianni Infantino]] to mark 100 years of the [[Iran Football Federation]]. After meeting Iranian President [[Hassan Rouhani]] they were welcomed by the president of Iranian Football Federation [[Mehdi Taj]] at the Tehran Olympic Hotel. Attending the [[Tehran Derby]], Van Basten called for the ban on women entering sports venues to be lifted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/01/football/1519915098_482323.html |title=Infantino attends Tehran derby but Iranian women hoping to watch the game are arrested |publisher=Diario AS |access-date=27 July 2018 |date=1 March 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727030906/https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/01/football/1519915098_482323.html |url-status=live }}</ref>