A biography for Marco van Bastenhasn’t been written yet.
“English football is very strong physically, but Spanish football is more technical.”
“I have a nice life.”
“As a manager you have to be positive to your guys, as a father to his sons, and that was one thing I really didn't have.”
“Modern football is like handball. You see 11 players defending on the edge of their own area.”
“We want to have a game which is honest, which is dynamic, a nice spectacle so we should try to do everything to help that process.”
“I'm not a good manager.”
“I feel very honoured that I've been chosen as the best player for 1992 by national coaches with so much football knowhow.”
“For quality and excitement the Champions League is better than the World Cup.”
“When you get older and more open and more honest, it is easier to show yourself how you really are.”
“After two good and interesting years I decided to put an end to my duty at FIFA, mainly to be able to spend more time with my family in Amsterdam.”
“When you feel good and the ball comes just a bit behind you, then you have the option to hold it and lay it back, but you can also do a bicycle kick - that was one of my qualities.”
“I do some business and work for television, talking about football.”
“I think the person I learnt the most from as a coach was Cruyff because he was always talking about tactics - how to play, where to play and when to play. I think that helps a lot of young players, which is good. He was the most important trainer for me.”
“I like that about the English people. They are sharp.”
“I worked hard at it, because I find being a coach a great and interesting job.”
“Louis van Gaal is a big manager, very experienced.”
“A top-class striker normally plays up on his toes, so he can sprint or go for every ball that falls in his direction.”
“There's a lot of emotion in the game but we have to control it. The people want to see action.”
“I think it can be very interesting watching a game without offside.”
“There was a moment in 1996 I had to say: 'I have to try to get healthy.' We made a decision to fuse my ankle. For a sportsman, and I was still only 32, that's the worst choice. But I had to stop the pain.”