The Hague, Jan 30 (IANS): Coach Marco van Basten will leave sc Heerenveen at the end of this season, the Dutch Eredivisie club announced.

The 49-year-old coach decided not to extend his expiring contract. In recent months, club and coach have had several meetings on a possible extension of the contract, reports Xinhua.

"The head coach indicated that he missed the right feeling to continue," Heerenveen stated on the club's website. "The board regrets, but respects his decision."

Van Basten started at sc Heerenveen in the middle of 2012. In his first season he led Heerenveen to the eighth position and currently the Frisian club is ranked fifth in the Dutch league.

The former Ajax and AC Milan player was previously coach of the Dutch team (2004-2008) and Ajax (2008/2009).

The former forward is considered as one of the best Dutch players ever. He led the Dutch team to the European title in 1988 and, among other trophies, he captured the Europa Cup (1989, 1990) and the Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990) with AC Milan.