Monday, 14th April, 2014
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has revealed that he has ambitions of becoming a head coach, which led him to decline an offer to join Guus Hiddink’s coaching staff when the veteran takes over the reins of the Dutch national team from Louis van Gaal after the World Cup.
Stam, who had notable playing spells at Manchester United and AC Milan, is currently working as one of the assistant coaches at Ajax, looking after the defensive side of the Dutch champions.
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"I've had conversations with Guus and the KNVB [the Dutch FA] about a possible role as a permanent assistant. That is of course a very nice job, only I have not taken it. At this time, I want to spend every day on the training pitch", Stam told the official KNVB channel.
The former Manchester United defender has revealed his ambitions to become a head coach and said for his development as a coach he needs to spend as much as time possible on the training pitch, which a coaching job with the national team won’t allow him to.
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"I have therefore opted for my own development. I hope I'm working next year with a team every day.
“Because my goal is to eventually be a head coach somewhere, but when, I cannot say."
Stam along with Roberto Carlos and John Terry are the only three players who have been named UEFA Club Best Defender of the Year twice in consecutive seasons.
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