Today is the 45th birthday of former Lazio and Milan defender Jaap Stam.

The centre-back moved to Italy in 2001, ostensibly due to controversial comments made about his Manchester United teammates in his autobiography.

However, it was later explained by manager Sir Alex Ferguson that the Red Devils had misinterpreted performance data and believed the Dutchman was on the decline.

“At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit,” Ferguson told the Independent in 2007.

Today is the 45th birthday of former Lazio and Milan defender Jaap Stam.

The centre-back moved to Italy in 2001, ostensibly due to controversial comments made about his Manchester United teammates in his autobiography.

However, it was later explained by manager Sir Alex Ferguson that the Red Devils had misinterpreted performance data and believed the Dutchman was on the decline.

“At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit,” Ferguson told the Independent in 2007.

“We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre-back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake.”

Stam’s time in Serie A got off to an inauspicious start as he was given a five-month ban – later reduced to four – for testing positive for the steroid nandrolone.

He nonetheless spent three seasons with the Biancocelesti, winning the Coppa Italia in 2004.

Ironically, his only trophy as a player with Milan would come as a result of that match, with the Rossoneri beating Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana after Stam had moved to San Siro.

The defender spent two seasons with the club, reaching the Champions League final in 2005.

However, having been part of one of the most incredible European comebacks of all time with United in 1999, Stam was on the wrong end of one this time.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side cruised into a 3-0 half-time lead against Liverpool, but the Reds pulled it back to 3-3 and eventually won the match on penalties.

The following season saw the Rossoneri finish second in Serie A – later changed to third after the Calciopoli verdicts – and Stam bade farewell after the end of the season.

After two seasons with Ajax, he moved into coaching and is currently the manager of English Championship side Reading.

Bygaby

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