AC Milan’s Dutch trinity: Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard display unique football skills
AC Milan, the reigning champions, have won the Italian league 18 times now. A notable period in its rich history was highlighted by Dutch influence. Dutch stars Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten played a major role in the club’s successes in the late 1980s and first half of the 1990s. National and international titles came to Milan and, to this day, fans and (ex) Milan players still express their gratitude.
Gullit and Van Basten joined the club in 1987, Rijkaard a year later. At first, it was Gullit who had the greatest influence. Charismatic Dutch captain Ruud Gullit’s first season in Milan saw the club win the “Scudetto” for the first time in 9 years. To sign Gullit, AC Milan paid the (at the time) world record transfer fee to PSV Eindhoven. But they earned it in no time.
Marco van Basten played for Ajax Amsterdam before moving to AC Milan. In the Netherlands, he became the league’s top scorer for four seasons from 1983 to 1987, scoring 117 goals in 112 games. In 1987, he also scored the only goal in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final. That was the last European trophy that Ajax was missing. So it was a great “farewell” gift for the club, as a new adventure awaited him in Italy.
Like Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard took his first professional steps on the pitch playing for Ajax. He lived in the same part of Amsterdam as Ruud Gullit during his teenage years. After becoming Europe’s best with the Netherlands in 1988, he completed AC Milan’s Dutch Trinity. In the end, each played a significant role in the other’s career.
AC Milan were almost invincible and played a revolutionary type of football, displaying skills rarely seen before in Serie A. This was part of the owner’s master plan. In 1986, businessman Silvio Berlusconi bought the club and saved it from bankruptcy. Berlusconi got manager Arrigo Sacchi to lead the team to success. He was followed by Fabio Capello, current England manager. The ‘rossoneri’ signed the Dutch trio, where they already had players like Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Carlo Ancelotti. This was the beginning of possibly the most successful era in AC Milan’s history.
During the Dutch trinity era (1987-1994) they managed to win four domestic titles, reach the Coppa Italia final in 1990 and win four Supercoppa Italiana. They were also a force to be reckoned with in Europe. They won three Champions League trophies, three UEFA Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. In all this, the Dutch players effectively used their super football skills. AC Milan won the 1989 Champions League final 4-0 against Steaua Bucuresti. Gullit and Van Basten scored 2 goals and Van Basten became the top scorer with 10 goals in total. The following year it was Frank Rijkaard’s turn. In the final against Benfica he scored the only goal, Van Basten provided the assist.
Along with Boca Juniors, Milan won more FIFA-recognized international club titles than any other club in the world. There is no denying that the Dutch trinity played its part.