Olympique de Marseille almost won the French League for the first time in how many years, having a remarkable run to third place, the most praised player was central defender Daniel Van Buyten, a Belgian former footballer who played as a centre back, nicknamed "Big Dan"?
2002–03 Olympique de Marseille season Olympique de Marseille almost won the French League for the first time in 11 years, having a remarkable run to third place, having only scored five goals more than it conceded. The most praised player was central defender Daniel Van Buyten, who was able to tighten up the defence, and also helping out with scoring several important goals. Without Marseille's goalscoring woes, it could have sustained a more serious title assault. Therefore it signed late-blooming starlet Didier Drogba from En Avant Guingamp, a move that was set to be among the best financial deals in the clubs' history.
Ballon d'Or 1989 The 1989 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Marco van Basten on 26 December 1989.