Football
PA Sport 8y

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam appointed Reading boss

Reading have confirmed the appointment of former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam as the club's new manager.

Former Netherlands international, who was introduced to the media at a news conference at the Madejski Stadium, has signed a two-year contract with the Championship club.

He becomes the Royals' first non-British manager and replaces Brian McDermott, who was sacked last month.

"We are all extremely excited to have Jaap Stam as the new manager of Reading," a statement attributed to club shareholder Tiger on the official website said.

"Lady Sasima, Narin and I have spoken to Jaap about his hopes and ambitions for Reading and it is clear to see he is a man with a real passion for football and a lot of energy and enthusiasm ready to put into his new role as a Royal."

Stam, who won the Champions League in 1999 as a player with Manchester United and had spells with Lazio and AC Milan in Serie A, will take charge of a senior team for the first time.

He has spent the last two seasons as assistant coach of Jong Ajax, the Dutch club's reserve side.

"He and his coaching team arrive from Ajax, a club globally renowned for developing young players into first team stars, and from this moment onwards we will sit down together and help to put his plans into action to build a strong squad capable of rising to the challenge of the Championship in 2016/17," the statement added.

"He has achieved the very highest honours as a player and has already won a title in his coaching career, so now he can begin what we believe will be a very successful journey in management at Madejski Stadium."

As a player Stam was signed for £10.6 million by Sir Alex Ferguson for United from PSV Eindhoven in 1998 and won three successive Premier League titles in his three seasons at Old Trafford before being sold to Lazio. Ferguson later admitted Stam's sale had been a mistake.

Stam served a four-month ban in 2001 after being found guilty of using the banned steroid nandrolone while playing for Lazio, but has always maintained his innocence and strongly denied taking any illegal substances.

He signed for AC Milan in 2004 and went on to appear in the 2005 Champions League final, which Liverpool won on penalties after fighting back from 3-0 down.

The Dutchman, who represented his country 67 times, signed for Ajax in 2006 and retired as a player the following year.

Reading finished 17th in the Championship last season and sacked previous boss McDermott for a second time on May 27.

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