FIFA said the 51-year-old’s new role will see him take charge of “all technical areas ranging from football technology innovation to refereeing”. He will start next week.
“It’s a great honour for me to be appointed for this assignment,” said the former Ajax and AC Milan star, whose brilliant volleyed goal helped the Netherlands beat the Soviet Union in the 1988 European Championship final.
Since retiring prematurely from playing due to injury, Van Basten has coached the Netherlands, Ajax, Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar and was most recently working as an assistant coach with the Dutch national team.