The recurring problems with the foot began as early as the age of 20 until he ended his career when he turned 30.
van Basten has chronic problems with his fixed foot and can not even kick with a football.
- If I was faced with that choice again with all the knowledge I have, I would say that it was not worth it, van Basten says to the BBC.
- It is not worth having all that pain, my ankle gave me so many problems and affects my daily life too much.
But at that time, football was all I had.
Today I would make another decision, says van Basten.
During his career, van Basten missed two full seasons due to foot problems.
Changed by Cruyff in the debut for Ajax
van Basten has been voted the Netherlands' second best player of all time after Johan Cruyff.
This was the idol for the young van Basten who met Cruyff as a 15-year-old and then wanted to say that one day he wanted them to become club mates but his courage betrayed him.
In 1982, the then 17-year-old van Basten made his Ajax debut by replacing Cruyff and scoring in the 5-0 victory against NEC.
- It was easier for me to play with him than to talk to him, says van Basten who ended his coaching career, where he based over the Netherlands in 2004-08, by being an assistant in the national team in 2016.
- I am older now and have a life without football.
You can still have a good life - there is more than football, says the 56-year-old.
van Basten was one of the best players of his generation and was awarded the Ballon d'Or three times between 1988 and 1992. He led the Netherlands to European Championship gold in 1988 after scoring the tournament's most beautiful goal when he volleyed the final 2-0 goal from close range in the final against the Soviet Union.
van Basten also became top scorer in the tournament.
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Van Basten's magic volley goal in the final -88