What happened to Jaap Stam, defender of Manchester United and AC Milan?

Jaap Stam is one of the strongest and most consistent defenders of recent years in the Netherlands. The central defender always imposed on any rival with his 1.91 height, handled a right profile and never gave up the ball. His versatility also allowed him to act as a right winger., although its main function was always as central.

Stam played professionally from 1991 to 2007 in a total of nine teams from three different countries. In the Netherlands he defended the colors of DOS Kampen, FC Zwolle, Cambuur Leeuwarden, Willem II, PSV and Ajax Amsterdam; in England he signed for Manchester United, while in Italy he belonged to the ranks of Lazio and AC Milan.

His facet as a footballer was full of successes, but also injuries accompanied him for years and these influenced the decision to retire in 2007. Jaap Stam's record was shaped like this: an Eredivisie, a Netherlands Cup and two Super Cups from the Netherlands with PSV; three Premier League and one FA Cup with Manchester United; an Italian Cup with Lazio; an Italian Super Cup with AC Milan and finally a Netherlands Cup and two Netherlands Super Cups with Ajax.

At the selection level, Jaap Stam played for the Netherlands in the 1998 World Cup in France, as well as the Euro Cups in England 1996, Belgium and the Netherlands 2000 and Portugal 2004. With his selection he was never able to win a championship.

Present

After hanging up his boots, Jaap Stam prepared to serve as technical director and currently holds the UEFA PRO License. He has already served as coach of Ajax B, Reading of England, Zwolle and Feyenoord of the Netherlands. Today and since 2020 he is the technical director of FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer.