SPORTS
Marco van Basten to step down as AZ Alkmaar coach due to health issues
The former European Footballer of the Year, who turns 50 next month, joined the Dutch club on a two-year deal at the start of the season but has been on a leave of absence due to stress.
He was given time off by the club and missed their last match before the club extended his time away from the game for a further fortnight.
AZ have not given any details of Van Basten’s problems but Dutch media reported that he had been suffering from heart palpitations since the death of his father in July.
Van Basten’s coaching career began with Ajax Amsterdam’s reserves in 2003 but a year later he was named Holland coach, managing the side’s 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 campaigns. He then spent less than a year in charge at Ajax, resigning in May 2009 following the side’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
He did not work for three years until joining Heerenveen in 2012, spending two seasons there before moving to AZ.
His assistant Alex Pastoor is expected to be named replacement, the media reports added.