Ruben Amorim has made a topsy-turvy start to life at Old Trafford (Image: Getty)
Jaap Stam says he’s open to a sensational return, 23 years on from his infamous departure. The Dutchman, who spent three seasons at Old Trafford as a player, insists he’d like to help rekindle the glory years at his former club, who have been struggling domestically for some time.
‘s arrival in November sparked a sense of optimism, particularly after the club’s 2-1 win over earlier this month. But defeats to , , and have left a sour taste in the mouth, and suggest there’s plenty of work to get United back to their trophy-hoovering best.
Speaking to , Stam, who is a former Feyenoord and manager, offered to lend the Red Devils a helping hand. “I’d love to coach at but they haven’t picked up the phone,” he said.
“I think everyone who has been associated with the club would love to go back and help. Having been in management myself I have coached and helping them in any role would be great.
“I’m always open for talks because I’d love to see the club back winning trophies and maybe I could help coach the defence, but with the manager lots of new staff have come in so they have plenty of options. But you never know.”
United sit 13th in the going into their Boxing Day clash with , and it marks the first time they were in the bottom half of the table on Christmas Day since 1989.
Stam has offered his services to Man Utd (Image: Getty)
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Stam admitted his former side were in a “transition period”, but suggested that even Amorim’s job could be under threat if results don’t properly pick up. “Everyone is hoping that can compete for the next season and the manager will as well, but in the meantime it’s very important to win matches and climb up the table,” the 52-year-old said.
“It’s a transition period and the players need time to adapt, but there is still pressure to win matches with his new style and to be in a decent position in the table. will be working hard to see which players best suit his system but until then there will be a lot of change.”
The Red Devils will be desperate to put their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Bournemouth last week behind them with a win at Molineux this evening (December 26). Three points could lift them into the top half of the table, depending on results elsewhere, and United will fancy doing just that given their fine recent record against Wolves – having beaten them in eight of their last 10 encounters.
Stam won six major honours in three years at United (Image: Getty)
Stam joined United in 1998 from PSV, becoming the most expensive defender in the world at the time after arriving in a £10.6million deal. He was a mainstay in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, and helped the club clinch an historic Treble (winning the , the Champions League and the FA Cup) in his debut season.
He went on to win the twice more before being controversially sold to Lazio in 2001. Ferguson would later admit that selling Stam was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made as a manager.
After hanging up his boots in 2007, Stam forged a successful career in coaching. He started out as an assistant at PEC Zwolle, and later at Ajax, before being named manager of Jong Ajax (Ajax’s second team) in 2014.
Two years later he took charge of Championship club Reading, and led them to the play-offs in his first season. However, he quit the role in 2018 after a poor run of just one win in 18 matches. He later managed PEC Zwolle, Feyenoord and FC Cincinnati, and is currently in charge of Dutch sixth tier side DOS Kampen.