--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years…" description: "\"I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and won something with the national team.\" — Marco van Basten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg" --- # I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and… ![“I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and won something with the national team.” quote by Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg) > “I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and won something with the national team.” [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on his successful club career and national team triumphs, emphasizing the joy of those periods. **In simple terms:** He enjoyed successful spells at Ajax, Milan, and with his country. Key Takeaway Cherish peak moments and learn from them. Themes sports career achievement Mood proud nostalgic Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - retirement reflection - career planning - team dynamics Key Concepts football legacy teamwork Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from those years guide you now? - How do you define success beyond trophies? A Different Perspective May overlook challenges faced during those years. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milan/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [I spent eight years at Milan and it's always an emotion to come back to San Siro. I grew up here and I remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-donnarumma/i-spent-eight-years-at-milan-and-it-s-always-an-emotion-to-come-back/) [Gianluigi Donnarumma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-donnarumma/) > [In Sao Paulo, I won everything. Milan, I won everything. Roma, I was league champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cafu/in-sao-paulo-i-won-everything-milan-i-won-everything-roma-i-was/) [Cafu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cafu/) > [I have always said that it is fundamental to have a strong core of Italian players in a club squad. At AC Milan, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/i-have-always-said-that-it-is-fundamental-to-have-a-strong-core-of/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [My best Champions League moment was when Milan won in 2007 against Liverpool. That was the biggest moment for me in the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/my-best-champions-league-moment-was-when-milan-won-in-2007-against/) [Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/) > [Six years at Ajax and eight years at Tottenham, that reflects the way I want to be as a footballer, I like stability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/six-years-at-ajax-and-eight-years-at-tottenham-that-reflects-the-way/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The fact that I can ever be open about my being gay is amazing! It's great that I don't have to hide it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/the-fact-that-i-can-ever-be-open-about-my-being-gay-is-amazing-it-s/) Shura > [I have had nice years in Turkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-sneijder/i-have-had-nice-years-in-turkey/) [Wesley Sneijder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-sneijder/) > [“I’d rather have a few wonderful years with love than a long life with animosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/i-d-rather-have-a-few-wonderful-years-with-love-than-a-long-life-with/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [It has been a wonderful five years. I'm excited about the many projects we're working on as we move into year six, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crier/it-has-been-a-wonderful-five-years-i-m-excited-about-the-many/) [Catherine Crier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crier/) > [Ted Danson was wonderful, years before 'Cheers.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hammond/ted-danson-was-wonderful-years-before-cheers/) [Nicholas Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-hammond/) > [I have spent three and a half wonderful years at Arsenal, and I bring with me very positive memories of that great club and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-have-spent-three-and-a-half-wonderful-years-at-arsenal-and-i-bring/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [I had 10 wonderful years in Spandau Ballet. It was an incredible way to grow up, to hang out with your best mates, discovering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-had-10-wonderful-years-in-spandau-ballet-it-was-an-incredible-way/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [Thanks for all those wonderful years and the wonderful memories you have given me. Happy Weeding anniversary yo my sweetheart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thanks-for-all-those-wonderful-years-and-the-wonderful-memories-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I spent 10 wonderful years at Real Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe/i-spent-10-wonderful-years-at-real-madrid/) [Pepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe/) > [I have spent four wonderful years with Manchester City. They have grown a lot over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-have-spent-four-wonderful-years-with-manchester-city-they-have/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) ## More by Marco van Basten > [When you are a good player you want to play every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/when-you-are-a-good-player-you-want-to-play-every-week/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [There was a moment in 1996 I had to say: 'I have to try to get healthy.' We made a decision to fuse my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/there-was-a-moment-in-1996-i-had-to-say-i-have-to-try-to-get-healthy/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [I think my gymnastic background helped a great deal with my agility when I took up football seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-think-my-gymnastic-background-helped-a-great-deal-with-my-agility/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Maybe an orange card could be shown that sees a player go out of the game for 10 minutes for incidents that are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/maybe-an-orange-card-could-be-shown-that-sees-a-player-go-out-of-the/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [If you can score a lot of goals in Italy, you can do it in the Champions League as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/if-you-can-score-a-lot-of-goals-in-italy-you-can-do-it-in-the/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Football should be tense, fair and attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/football-should-be-tense-fair-and-attractive/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [I try my best to do what's best for the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-try-my-best-to-do-what-s-best-for-the-team/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [I have worked with Johan Cruyff, with Rinus Michels, with Arrigo Sacchi and with Fabio Capello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-have-worked-with-johan-cruyff-with-rinus-michels-with-arrigo-sacchi/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Arsenal are the most beautiful club in England. At Man City and Chelsea, they will never have that class and style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/arsenal-are-the-most-beautiful-club-in-england-at-man-city-and/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [When I became the assistant, I was intelligent and helpful. I had patience. As the head coach I was completely the opposite. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/when-i-became-the-assistant-i-was-intelligent-and-helpful-i-had/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Arsenal are a really big club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/arsenal-are-a-really-big-club/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he wins a World Cup, he will be the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-wins-a-world-cup-he-will/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [In England there's a lot of money to create a great team like Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/in-england-there-s-a-lot-of-money-to-create-a-great-team-like/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [I'm not a good manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-m-not-a-good-manager/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Scoring can be simply a matter of confidence. Sometimes it happens easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/scoring-can-be-simply-a-matter-of-confidence-sometimes-it-happens/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) [Explore all 104 Marco van Basten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and won something with the national team.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marco van Basten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years-with-milan-and-won-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years-with-milan-and-won-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/marco-van-basten-4950_football_i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years_719466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had nice years at Ajax, wonderful years with Milan, and won something with the national team.” — Marco van Basten", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marco van Basten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had nice years at Ajax,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years-with-milan-and-won-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-had-nice-years-at-ajax-wonderful-years-with-milan-and-won-something/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```