"Marco was the greatest centre-forward that I’ve ever trained, he was a swan. He remains the greatest in his role. It was such a shame that he was forced to retire at 28. It was a mortal misfortune for him, for football, and for Milan." High praise coming from a legend as grand as Fabio Capello. And entirely deserved.

Welcome to issue 71: Marco van Basten. For many, there has never been a better, more complete striker. At his best, there was nothing off limits to Van Basten; no type of goal that couldn't be scored, no bit of movement that couldn't bamboozle the greatest defenders in the greatest era of defending in Italy.

From bagging arguably the greatest volley in history in the Euro 88 final to his immeasurable impact for Arrigo Sacchi at AC Milan, through to his effective retirement at the age of just 28, this is the complete story of Marco van Basten, the Swan of Utrecht.

Featuring:

• The making of Van Basten at Ajax
• Ajax 1984-1987: the swan
• Netherlands 1983-1988: the missing years
• The glory of Euro 88
• AC Milan 1987-1990: the peak of Van Basten
• Duology: Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit
• Netherlands 1988-1992: the second coming
• AC Milan 1990-1995: the last stand
• Marco the Manager
• The enduring legacy of Van Basten
• Quotes: Van Basten in the words of others
• Infographic: the numbers of Van Basten
• Van Basten's 18 greatest kits illustrated
  
• ... and lots more

Order now before we sell out. Every other issue has sold out before dispatch and won't be back until we reprint in future.

Projected dispatch by 12 December