Van Basten ready to carry Michel's torch to finals

AMSTERDAM, May 24: Marco van Basten shunned football for seven years after injury ended his career in 1995 but since his return to the game as Netherlands coach his star is rising as rapidly as it did in his early days as a player.

''His era promises to be spectacular,'' one Dutch paper enthused after the former Dutch great took over from Dick Advocaat, whose tenure was blighted by media criticism and petulant players.

Van Basten started his career at Ajax Amsterdam and in 1987 moved to AC Milan, with whom he won two Champions Cups in 1989 and 1990 as well as the 1994 Champions League, although his wrecked ankle kept him sidelined that season.

Milan boss Fabio Capello wept when the former World Player of the Year and the most feared goalscorer of his generation stepped on to the San Siro pitch in jeans and a suede jacket a year later for his final goodbye.

During his seven-year absence Van Basten concentrated largely on improving his golfing skills before regaining his appetite for football.

He started as the assistant of former team mate and friend John van't Schip with the Ajax reserves, but succeeded Advocaat after Euro 2004.

Van Basten's former coach and world soccer great Johan Cruyff advised the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to put him in charge of rebuilding a team which had failed to qualify for the previous World Cup.

With his experience as a player his only qualification, Van Basten asked three former team mates, Van't Schip, Rob Witschge and Stanley Menzo, to assist him.

Van Basten has silenced critics with his team's unbeaten qualification for the World Cup, notching up 10 wins and two draws during their campaign.

''I will pick players who will fit best in my team,'' Van Basten said, after showing a degree of savvy and steel in dropping players such as Patrick Kluivert.

As a player Van Basten won everything but the World Cup -- playing only in 1990 when the Dutch were eliminated by eventual winners West Germany.

Coached by the late Rinus Michels, the manager who took the Dutch to the 1974 World Cup final and 1988 European Championship final, Van Basten started Euro 88 on the bench.

With five goals in the final four matches, however, he played a major role in the Dutch team's sole international trophy.

He will be forever remembered for his stunning, individual angled volley against the Soviet Union in the final -- widely regarded as one of the best goals ever scored.

REUTERS