Total Squash

By Mike Dale

A thousand people from all over the world mill around the bar and squash courts of the Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam. It is day one of the 2024 WSF World Masters, so most faces are a little wrinkled and hair is either grey, receding or both. One crowd member is a 60-year-old who’s popped in from his home nearby to watch some matches. He just happens to be one of the greatest footballers that ever lived. 

This isn’t a special one-off appearance by Marco van Basten – all-time legend of Ajax and AC Milan, winner of the 1988 European Championship with the Netherlands and three-time collector of the Ballon d’Or. He turns up every day of the tournament, totally hooked by the action and happy to chat genially and pose for the odd selfie for those who recognise him. 

In fact, van Basten is a long-time member and player (when injury permits him) on the 21 courts at the Frans Otten Stadion. He’s treated no differently to any other patron at the club and is softly-spoken, almost shy and entirely unpretentious when we sit and chat behind the spectator seats on the central glass court. 

We’re introduced by a mutual friend, Nicole Beumer, who was coach of the Dutch national women’s squash team for its finest moment – winning the European Team Championship in 2010 and ending England’s 32-year stranglehold on the trophy. Although she mainly works in padel now, she coaches Marco on the squash court when he’s fit enough. “He has very good anticipation and sees it early. He has a pretty good technique and is also very competitive,” she says. 

A few years ago, van Basten played in the C grade of the Dutch National Squash Championships. “I was already grey at that point,” he says. “I was a very intelligent footballer, but I’m a pretty stupid squash player.” It’s a summary Nicole vehemently disagrees with, insisting that he’s too modest. 

As a massive football fan, I am unusually nervous for our interview. As van Basten self-flagellates about his squash ability, I venture a tentative joke: “I bet you’re a great volleyer though!” In my own head, this is a clear reference to his greatest ever goal – the sensational volley against the Soviet Union in the Euro 88 final, one of the most famous goals ever scored. He doesn’t get it. “I suppose so,” he replies, smiling but slightly confused. 

The severe ankle injury which forced him to retire from football at the age of just 28 troubles him still. In his 2020 autobiography, he revealed that it was so painful by age 30 that he used to crawl from his bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night and count upwards in his head to numb the agony. He rarely reached the toilet before getting to 120. 

“I’m not able to play squash at the moment because of my age and physical problems, but I’m really happy to be here watching the games,” he tells Squash Player. “I really respect the players, the spectacular rallies, the way you have to fight but also be clever. 

“I like golf, Formula 1 and tennis, but because I play squash it gives you more understanding when you watch it. You understand the feeling that you have during a game, dealing with difficult moments, taking on your opponent physically and tactically. It’s a bit like a boxing match but with a ball.” 

He laments not picking up squash until his late 40s. “It’s a pity I started late because my technique is not becoming much better, so I have to run more and my physical state isn’t good enough. The older you get, the more difficult it is to learn things. I’m a hard hitter. I want to get technically and tactically better, but it’s very difficult to improve in that way at my age. 

“I have a lot of thoughts during the game but the lobs are too high and drop shots are too low for me to reach! The idea is good but the execution is not so good. At a certain point, squash has to be something that is nice for you, but winning becomes secondary. But I never lose my enthusiasm.” 

Even though he was forced to retire so early, Van Basten finished his football career with two European Cups, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, three titles each in Holland and Italy and an almost unrivalled list of individual awards to his name. 

Thereafter, he took the well-travelled route into coaching but was thrust too early into the role of Netherlands national manager and had public fall- outs with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Clarence Seedorf and Marc van Bommel during his trophyless four years in charge. Spells at Ajax, Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar brought similarly meagre rewards and plenty of stress. He cited physical and mental issues when his contract at AZ was terminated by mutual consent in 2014.