jaap stam retires at age of 35

[persiangodfather]

[PersianMadrid7]

Incredible player, will be missed.

[soheil86]

Incredible player, will be missed.

incredible?common!

[Crooked I]

one of the strongest defenders in thw world,soheil what does someone who lives in dubai know about soccer ?maybe about falafel but not soccer

[PersianMadrid7]

incredible?common!

sorry if he didn't score more goals than Pele, or as skilled as Maradona.

but he was an incredible defender.

[persiangodfather]

he was a rock at the back and this defence in 2005 its no wonder we were so good

maldini nesta stam cafu

[PersianMadrid7]

he was a rock at the back and this defence in 2005 its no wonder we were so good
maldini nesta stam cafu

That's a dream defense right there.

[Crooked I]

imagine that 4 were all 25-26 man,i think it would be the best defense ever

[Suprah]

Yip-Jaap Stam is a big Dutch man,
Get past him if you f'''ing can,
Try a little trick and he'll make you look a dick,
Yip-Jaap, Jaap Stam


Yip Jap Stam is a big Dutch Man,
He held Ronaldo and he held Zidanne,
He's even shagged Robbie Fowler's Mam,
Yip-Jaap, Jaap Stam



United quality, won the TREBLE in his first season, and each season he was part of, before silly lines in his book pissed off Sir Alex, he was a Premiership champion

[chuck bass]

imagine that 4 were all 25-26 man,i think it would be the best defense ever

I agree

[persiangodfather]

Yip-Jaap Stam is a big Dutch man,
Get past him if you f'''ing can,
Try a little trick and he'll make you look a dick,
Yip-Jaap, Jaap Stam


Yip Jap Stam is a big Dutch Man,
He held Ronaldo and he held Zidanne,
He's even shagged Robbie Fowler's Mam,
Yip-Jaap, Jaap Stam



United quality, won the TREBLE in his first season, and each season he was part of, before silly lines in his book pissed off Sir Alex, he was a Premiership champion

well he got his revenge when milan beat man u in 05

[Suprah]

well he got his revenge when milan beat man u in 05

He couldnt play at Old Trafford which was sad because we still adore him for what he did here. Sir Alex finally admits he wasnt right to sell him.

[babak_australia]

A great Dutch player. He may just be in Hollands team of the last 50 years.
He had a no bull attitude and chased till the end.

He was a part of my favourite Holland squad of the 98 World Cup. He was a rock for them in that world cup. I was very sad to see him go to Man U as i hate them and loved him, glad to see him end his career at Ajax.

all the players i grew up watching are leaving the game

[fashionista17]

what a shame, one of the world's best defenders of the past decade.

[Suprah]

Quite frankly, his career nose-dived after he left United for Lazio because of his book. Dont blame me, most folks' career tend to nose dive after leaving MUFC anyway Got banned for a failed drug test, injuries, and not getting the success he found in those 3 seasons at Old Trafford. Great player, shit author.

Jaap Stam held a conference this afternoon to announce his immediate retirement from football at the age of 35 despite his contract with AFC Ajax running until the end of the season. "The motivation and drive were no longer there," said the imposing central defender.

'Physical problems'
Stam continued: "I've been more preoccupied with myself than opponents lately, and then there are the physical problems to add to that. I noticed the physical side of things less at the end of last season but they were soon back this season. I wanted to quit then but was convinced to carry on. Now I can't continue. I'm not a player who can play at 50 per cent. I've never done that. I'm disappointed in myself that I can no longer motivate myself."

'Beautiful club'
Stam joined Ajax in summer 2006 with the intention of ending a successful career on home soil in the Netherlands next summer. He made 25 Eredivisie appearances last term, and captained the Amsterdam club to Dutch Cup glory, but has featured in only six league games this season, his final one seeing him go off at half-time in the goalless draw with NEC Nijmegen on 20 October.. Stam said: "I hope the Ajax fans understand. Ajax is the most beautiful club in the Netherlands to me. The fans have always been good to me here. I'm satisfied with how my career has gone, although obviously I would have wanted to end it another way."

European glory
Stam played for FC Zwolle, SC Cambuur Leeuwarden and Willem II before being snapped up by PSV Eindhoven in 1995/96. He joined Manchester United FC for €16.7m in 1998 and played in all 990 minutes of United's UEFA Champions League campaign as they won an unprecedented treble the following year. He was surprisingly sold to S.S. Lazio for €26.8m in August 2001 and next moved to AC Milan for €10.5m in summer 2004.

International career
He was an integral part of the Netherlands sides which reached the semi-finals of both the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2000™ - losing on penalties on each occasion - and the 2004 UEFA European Championship, after which he retired from international football with 67 caps and three goals

If I were a PSV fan, I'd be pissed off at Stam after he said Ajax is a 'beautiful club'