Van Basten to coach SC Heerenveen next season

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands (AP) -- Former Netherlands striker Marco van Basten will return to coaching next season, taking charge of Dutch club SC Heerenveen, the club announced Monday.

Club chairman Rob Veenstra said the 47-year-old Van Basten signed a two-year contract to return to coaching after a three-year absence. Financial details were not revealed.

"This is an ambitious club that wants to play at a higher level, but is also realistic,'' Van Basten said.

Van Basten coached the Netherlands from 2004-08, leaving after the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Russia, and Ajax from 2008 until he quit in 2009, saying he didn't consider himself good enough for the job.

As a player, he starred for Ajax and AC Milan in a career cut short by ankle injuries.

Van Basten will replace Ron Jans, whose contract will not be extended at the end of his second season in charge.

Heerenveen is currently third in the Dutch league, thanks mainly to prolific striker Bas Dost, who has a league-leading 19 goals in 21 matches.

"I want to do all I can to build on that next season,'' Van Basten said of Heerenveen's league position.

Dost was linked last season to a transfer to Ajax. It remains to be seen if he will stay in Heerenveen next season and whether the appointment of Van Basten will persuade him to stay longer.

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