How Sir Alex Ferguson’s personal request to Manchester United has been positively helpful
Legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal request to Jaap Stam to look after a Manchester United legend who had arrived at Old Trafford.
Jaap Stam was a key defensive figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary Manchester United teams of the past after he was snapped up from PSV Eindhoven in 1996.
The 52-year-old Dutchman was a club-record signing for United at the time, with the Red Devils paying a £10m transfer fee to sign him from PSV Eindhoven.
Stam is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history after his incredible impact at Old Trafford.
The United legend made 127 appearances for the Red Devils and was a linchpin defender during his prolific spell at the Premier League club.
Stam was a key member of the famous United team that lifted an iconic continental treble in the 1998-99 season under former Red Devils boss Ferguson.
During his three full seasons at Old Trafford, the former United centre-back lifted three Premier League titles, a Champions League and an FA Cup.
Sir Alex Ferguson attends the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Germany and Scotland at Munich Football Arena on June 14, 2024 in Munich, Ge…
Ferguson’s request to Stam over Man Utd legend
Jaap Stam’s legendary run at the Premier League club came to an end in 2001 after Sir Alex Ferguson ruthlessly axed him from Old Trafford.
Ferguson, who has admitted his regret over selling Stam, sold the Dutchman to Lazio in 2001 after he was upset about remarks that were made against him.
Stam had made the comments about Ferguson in his 2001 autobiography ‘Head to Head,’ which led to a split in his relationship with the Scotsman.
Speaking to The Athletic, the ex-Netherlands international revealed that Ferguson wanted him to look after Ruud van Nistelrooy when he first signed for United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, much like Stam, had played for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven before he completed his move to Old Trafford.
Stam revealed that he looked after Van Nistelrooy as requested, but he managed to drive over his foot and none of the players told Ferguson about the incident.
“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,” he said.
“Ruud, of course, is a legend for the club. Our times crossed over briefly and I was asked to look after him when he first joined, like me, from PSV.
“Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] told me to make him feel welcome and show him around, which I did, apart from the time when I drove over his foot. None of us told the manager that.”
Stam on Van Nistelrooy at Man Utd now
Ruud van Nistelrooy made his sensational return to Old Trafford this summer to become part of Erik ten Hag’s United coaching staff.
The 48-year-old Dutchman had been out of management since his spell with PSV ended in 2023 before taking up his assistant manager post at United.
Stam admitted that he rated the appointment of former Netherlands teammate Van Nistelrooy and is hopeful that he can “bring some quality to the strikers.”
“At United now, Ruud can hopefully bring some quality to the strikers in coaching and make the players better as individuals,” he continued.
“He’s been a manager himself, too, so that should help. I like the appointment.”
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