Jaap Stam picks his best all-time XI, but which four Manchester United players did he select?
No place for Peter Schmeichel, Gary Neville or even Paul Scholes. Who else has new Reading boss left out?
NEW Reading manager Jaap Stam has selected his All-Time XI based on his best former teammates at PSV Eindhoven, Milan, Lazio, Ajax and Manchester United.
The great Dutch defender has included Manchester United sidekicks Edwin van der Sar, Denis Irwin, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs.
But he’s left out Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.
The former centre half explained: “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.”
Stam chose 4-3-3 formation because”that is the Dutch way”.
Goalkeeper – Edwin van der Sar
STAM played with van der Sar together for the Holland during the mid 1990s to early 2000s. Van der Sar, who found club success with Ajax, Juventus and United, was named Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year in four consecutive years from 1994 through to 1997.
Defender – Cafu
THE former Brazil captain played alongside Stam at Milan and were part of the club’s formidable 2003-04 Serie A title-winning side. Milan lost just two league games that season.
Defender – Alessandro Nesta
ITALIAN ace Nesta and Stam teamed up at Milan. Nesta won two Scudettos and two Champions League crowns with Milan as well as the World Cup with Italy in 2006.
Defender – Paolo Maldini
MALDINI was a mainstay in the Milan first-team for an amazing 24 seasons. He remains one of world football’s few one club men and like his father before him captained the club to Champions League glory.
Defender – Denis Irwin
FORMER Oldham left back Irwin was one of the most dynamic, consistent and yet underrated figures in Manchester United‘s rise to the top of English football. The penalty-taking ace left back made over 500 appearances for the club.
Midfielder – Roy Keane
KEANE remains a United legend as the bruising midfield force that drove the club’s sustained success in the 1990s. The former Republic of Ireland international was a natural leader on the pitch, tough tackler and scored over 50 goals for the Red Devils.
Midfielder – Clarence Seedorf
FIVE-time Champions League winner Seedorf did it with three different clubs. The Dutchman played alongside Stam at Milan after similarly successful stints at Ajax and Real Madrid.
Attacking midfielder – Dennis Bergkamp
THE former Arsenal and Ajax star played with Stam for Holland, most notably in their run to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup.
Winger/forward – Marc Overmars
The speedy Dutch forward, nicknamed ‘Roadrunner’, was another of Stam’s international teammates.
He won three Eredivisie crowns with Ajax before moving to Arsenal in 1997 where he would also help Arsene Wenger’s side to a top-flight title.
Centre forward – Ronaldo
RONALDO had prolific spells at Cruzeiro in Brazil, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. It was at PSV, the then teenage Ronaldo, played alongside Stam, netting 35 times in 36 games.
Winger/forward – Ryan Giggs
THE Premier League‘s most domestically decorated player, Ryan Giggs is the measuring stick for longevity in the top-flight.
The Welshman was part of United’s first-team set-up for 24 years, his crowning achievement widely viewed as being part of the team, along with Stam, that won the Treble in 1999.
