Manchester United have had no shortage of great defenders down the years, and as fans, we can only hope that our defensive department strengthens ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Our defence was depleted by injuries last season. It didn’t help that our best centre-back was missing for most of the season, which was made worse by Erik ten Hag being forced to change his back four most weeks.
One defender fans regularly reminisce over, despite leaving the club under a grey cloud, is former Netherlands international Jaap Stam.
The Dutch have produced some of the best players over the years, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk seen as the best defender in the current Netherlands squad.
Van Dijk’s form has dipped in recent times – for Liverpool as well as his country – and he has been the subject of heavy criticism during Euro 2024.
Speaking to Voetbal Primeur, Ronald de Boer reminded everyone that Stam is the best Dutch centre-back of all time.
De Boer said: “Everyone has experienced players in their own time who were great, but Jaap was reallly a monster.”
The former Ajax and Crystal Palace manager was asked directly if Stam was better than Van Dijk to which he replied: “Yes.”
Stam only spent three years at United between 1998 and 2001, winning everything he could during that time, including the famous Treble.
After leaving United, Stam went on to play for Lazio, AC Milan and Ajax.
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