Former Manchester United legend and arguably one of the best defenders of his time, Jaap Stam, has picked his best team mates XI. Jaap Stam had a phenomenal career with titles in England, Holland and Italy. In his playing days, he spent time at major clubs like Dutch heavyweights PSV Eindhoven and Ajax, Manchester United, and Italian giants Lazio and AC Milan. He is popularly known as the most expensive defender of his time. When signed in 1998 by Sir Alex Ferguson, he spent three seasons at Old Trafford and won titles in every season along with the famous treble of 1998-99.
Since he played alongside many greats of the game in his era, Jaap Stam unmistakably pointed out that it required a good thought to pick out 11 players. Controversially, Stam has left out Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, AC Milan favourite Kaka, and Peter Schmeichel, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time. However, the centre-back added: “It is difficult to pick someone in every position, because I have played with so many great players; Peter Schmeichel would be a contender for goalkeeper, for example, but I can only choose one. He is not the only one I have left out: Kaka, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes — he is one of the most underestimated players of the past 20 years.”
The current manager of Championship club Reading, his first ever coaching assignment, Jaap Stam revealed his best team mates XI speaking in an interview with The Times. As a dignified Dutchman, Stam said that he wouldn't base his best XI on any other formation than the 4-3-3. "It has to be a 4-3-3 formation: that is the Dutch way," he said.
Here’s a look at Jaap Stam’s best team mates XI:
GK: Edwin van der Sar
Stam explained the tough choice he had to make when choosing the Netherlands international whose goal he defended during the mid-1990s to early 2000s. Edwin van der Sar won accolades at several clubs such as Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United. In his long and successful career, he was voted the Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year for four consecutive years, Best European Goalkeeper in 1995 and 2009, and UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009.
In the 2008-09 Champions League winning season for Manchester United, he set the clean sheet record for not conceding a single goal for 1,311 minutes. Along with making the most appearances for the Netherlands national team, with 130 caps, he is the oldest player to win a Premier League title at 40 years and 205 days old for the Red Devils.
RB: Cafu
Former Brazil captain Cafu played with Stam when the pair represented the Serie A winning side of AC Milan in the 2003-04 season. Cafu is the highest capped player for Brazil, and won two World Cups for the Selecao in 1994 and 2002, while also being named as the South American Footballer of the Year in 1994.
Cafu, dangerous with his pace and energy, was even Pele named him in his 125 greatest footballers list.
CB: Alessandro Nesta
The Italian who was part of the 2006 World Cup winning team was named as one of Stam’s preferred centre-back partner. Alessandro Nesta is a four-time Serie A Defender of the Year in the span of 20 years, and won three Serie A and two Champions League titles. He won a league title at Lazio, but is mostly recognized for his time at AC Milan. He also played for Chennaiyin FC in the 2014 edition of the Indian Super League.
CB: Paolo Maldini
One of the greatest defenders of his generation, there are no prizes for guessing Paolo Maldini in Stam’s list. Maldini was a crucial AC Milan first-team player and a faithful who played an incredible 25 seasons in the Serie A. He goes into the history books as one of club football's most loyal men and like his father, he also captained the club to Champions League glory.
LB: Denis Irwin
One of the unsung heroes to have helped Manchester United's rise to the top of English football, left-back Denis Irwin made over 500 appearances for the club and makes an appearance in Stam’s list also. He is the joint-most successful Irish footballer alongside Roy Keane, winning 19 trophies in his career.
Midfielder: Roy Keane
Captain Roy Keane was the terrifying presence in Manchester United’s midfield that was so central to the club's rise in the 1990s. The former Republic of Ireland international won 17 trophies at the club and scored more than 50 goals for the Red Devils over a 12-year span. Keane took the responsibility of the Manchester United captaincy following Eric Cantona’s retirement and guided the club to their famous treble of 1998-99.
Midfielder: Clarence Seedorf
Five-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf is arguably one of the most impressive midfielders from Europe. The Dutchman is the only one to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, having won in his stints with Ajax, AC Milan and Real Madrid. Seedorf played alongside Stam at Milan.
Attacking Midfielder: Dennis Bergkamp
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp played with Stam for Holland, fondly remembered for their run to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. ‘The non-flying Dutchman’ was a part of the ‘The Invincibles’ Arsenal team of 2003-04 and is known for possessing one of the finest techniques in the world of football. Revered by Thierry Henry, he is a no-surprise to be on the list.
RW/Forward: Marc Overmars
The speedy Dutch forward, nicknamed 'Roadrunner', was also Stam's international team-mates. Overmars won three Eredivisie titles and the Champions League crown of 1994-95 with Ajax before moving to Arsenal where he would help the North London club beat Manchester United to the Premier League title.
LW/Forward: Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs needs no introduction as he is probably the most decorated footballer in the Premier League and world football. The legendary player was part of United's first-team for 24 years, winning 13 Premier League medals and two Champions League trophies, one along with Stam in the Treble-winning season of 1999.
CF: Ronaldo
The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year played with Stam as a teenager in the PSV Eindhoven side scoring 35 times in 36 games. The goalscoring phenomenon played for clubs in Brazil, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Jaap Stam’s best team mate XI looks something like this on paper:
