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Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has lavished praise on United’s new coaches Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake.
The Dutchman was a huge fan favourite at Old Trafford between 1998-2001 before he was sold prematurely by Sir Alex Ferguson after he published an autobiography without permission.
Fans adored his no-nonsense style of defending but his speed and comfort on the ball made him a formidable defender who would not look out of place in the modern era at all.
Speaking to The Athletic, Stam commented on his dreams of returning to England. After a successful spell at Reading where they reached a playoff final, there was a return to the Netherlands to manage Zwolle and a frustrating spell at Feyenoord, before coaching in America for FC Cincinnati.
He has turned down a couple of offers in his home country as his real ambition is to return to British shores.
“I’d like to go back to management and I’d love to work in the UK again. I’ve had several offers from clubs in Holland, but it must be the right fit. I’ve had a couple of jobs where I’ve taken what is on offer at face value and the reality has turned out very different. Then you are alone and exposed.”
Working as a pundit for Dutch TV covering the Premier League, the now 52 year old has plenty of opportunities to go back to Old Trafford and he commented on the growing Dutch influence at the Theatre of Dreams these days.
Speaking on the manager Stam said, “I like Erik. I don’t know him that well as a person, but we have met up a couple of times briefly at Old Trafford. And there are others. Managers want to work with people who they know, people who will bring something different to their managerial team and I can see that in Erik’s appointments, especially this year.”
United have appointed two new assistant managers, Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former teammate of Stam’s and Rene Hake.
“As a manager, you need people who will go against you and challenge you and hopefully Ruud (Van Nistelrooy) and Rene (Hake) will do this. Ruud, of course, is a legend for the club. Ruud can hopefully bring some quality to the strikers in coaching and make the players better as individuals. He’s been a manager himself, too, so that should help. I like the appointment.”
The former United defender asserted that Hake may need time to convince the players he can operate at such a top drawer side having previously managed at Go Ahead Eagles but he conceded, “he has the knowledge and a clear vision of how to play football and I think that’s why Erik wants him.”
The treble winner then discussed new signing Joshua Zirkzee and backed him to succeed at the club.
“He needs time to adapt to the Premier League, not just the style of play but the pressure and expectation that comes at a huge club like United.”
“I’ve been there, I know what it’s like. Different language, country, club, culture and players to what you are used to. It’s good for Joshua that there are a lot of Dutch there and he absolutely has ability.”
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