Jaap Stam: Reading appoint ex-Manchester United star as manager
Last updated on .From the section Football
Reading have named ex-Manchester United and Netherlands defender Jaap Stam as their new manager.
The 43-year-old, capped 67 times by his country, takes over from Brian McDermott, whose second spell in charge of the club lasted just six months.
A coach at Ajax last season, Stam had been favourite to succeed McDermott.
"Reading are very ambitious like I am and want to get back to the Premier League," he said. "Hopefully we can have a good partnership and get there."
Stam, who was part of United's 1998-99 treble-winning side during his three years at Old Trafford, joins the Championship club on a two-year contract.
The former Lazio, AC Milan and Ajax centre-back's new role with the Royals is his first in management.
"Everyone knows that teams in the Championship are very competitive," he added. "It's not going to be easy, but we'll work very hard."
He becomes Reading's first non-British or Irish manager. Dutch duo Andries Ulderink and Said Bakkati will join his coaching team having worked with him at Ajax.
First-team coaches Steven Reid and Dave Beasant will both remain in their positions.
'I wish McDermott had been given longer'
Chairman Sir John Madejski, who sat alongside Stam as he was presented to the press on Monday, admitted he was disappointed to see the club part with McDermott in May.
McDermott led the Royals to promotion to the Premier League in 2011-12, but won only nine of 30 games in charge during his second spell as the Berkshire side finished 17th last season.
"I wish that Brian had been given a bit longer," said Madejski. "But the shareholders decided it was time for a change.
"I respect the shareholders' decision, although I didn't agree with the decision that Brian shouldn't have stayed longer.
"That's in the past now, so we have to move forward. I wish Jaap every success for the future and I really do mean that."
Stam, meanwhile, said he spoke to fellow countrymen Southampton boss Ronald Koeman and former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink before deciding to take the Reading job.
"It's very important to speak to people who have been working at the top level as well as in the UK to ask them for advice about the way to go," he said.
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This is a FOOTBALL page mate, hence you will find FOOTBALL related stories on here. I guess most people will be looking on here for FOOTBALL related stories. I for one am glad for a break from the EU nonsense...
He's a 'name' but still a big gamble
I'm pretty sure there are plenty of equally experienced Brits who'd kill for such an opportunity and probably for a few quid less
Good luck though
It's a very difficult division and he'll be under pressure from the start, a few poor results and he'll be out by Christmas...
Wonder if the BBC has an automatic routine to automatically open HYS articles if a certain two words appear in the headline....
on
1 hour ago
And another young British coach/manager is overlooked in favour of a former player at a top club. When will owners realise that being a top player at a top club has no relevance ton how successful you are as a manager?
When will you realise that being 'young' and 'British' has no relevance to how successful you are as a manger?
Story was he was too verbose for Ferguson. Gotta like it. Let's hope he puts that forcefulness to good use and gets Reading back up.
Step 1 - Check to see if story has any link to Man United, however tenuous.
Step 2 - Open a HYS.
Step 3 - Gaze lovingly out of their windows at Old Trafford.
In the 6 months he was in charge he was not allowed to play the team he wanted to due to all the ridiculously over paid and over rated players we had on loan
Any connection to the BBC's favourite team and it's gravy all the way.
Jaap Stam may not have management experience but he has been a coach at Ajax, and i remember McDermott being a scout at Reading before he became manager so he didnt have any management experience either