Yap Stam is one of the best players in world sports. He played for the strongest European clubs. Internationally defended the Netherlands.
Childhood and initial career
Yap was born in 1972, in the city of Kampen. From childhood, he stood out for his height. Parents decided to send their child to the football section, as it soon becomes clear, they made the right choice. Already in childhood, the guy showed himself as a defender. He never wanted to be a striker, but loved to take the balls.
The coaches who practiced Stam as a child noted that he was a very unyielding player and prophesied a great future for him.
At the age of twenty, Yap Stam makes his debut as a professional footballer in the Zwolle team. A promising player will spend a fairly strong season, having played in thirty-two fights and scored one goal.
For the next two years, he will play for the Combure team. Here he will turn from a promising defender into one of the best central defenders of Holland.
In 1995, Yap Stam transferred to Willem 2. As it turns out later, he will not stay here for long.
The main stage of a career
After nineteen matches for Willem 2, the defender moves to PSV Eindhoven. As part of this club, he grows into one of the most powerful stoppers in Europe. Two years later, the football player in his team wants to see Alex Ferguson. The Dutchman will not resist the offer of Manchester and will go to conquer Misty Albion. True, Yap Stam will not stay in the English club. Photos and videos of this career period delight fans with an excellent game of Yap.
After three seasons in England, the football player leaves for the Roman Lazio. Here he spends three good periods, during which he will play seventy fights and score three goals.
At the age of thirty two soccer player goes to Milan. There he will spend two seasons, but will no longer show such a strong game as in Lazio and PSV. Despite this, he will still be one of the best defenders of Series A. In Milan, the footballer will win several important trophies.
After the Italian career period, Yap Stam returns to Holland. The footballer joins PSV’s ardent rival, Ajax Amsterdam. By this act, he incurred the wrath of Eindhoven fans. In this team, he will spend the last season in his career, after which he will hang the boots on a nail.
Career in the national team
In the national team, the footballer made his debut at the age of twenty-four.
In total, he spent sixty-seven fights, three times hit the opponents' goal.
He participated in two continental championships, as well as in one world championship.
He ended his career in the national team early due to an unfortunate miss at the European Championship in Portugal. The football player himself explained his decision by the fact that age does not allow playing in the club and the national team equally successfully, as well as the desire to spend more time with the family.
At the time of ending his career in the national team, Stam was only thirty years old.
Coaching
Immediately after the player’s career ended, he was invited to Manchester United. Alex Ferguson wanted the Dutchman to work for the Red Devils Scout Service.
In 2009, Stam headed the Zwolle for some time. After a while, he will become an assistant coach. He held this position for two years, after which he was invited to Ajax. He becomes an assistant to the head coach, where he works to this day. It is worth noting that in parallel he coaches the Amsterdam youth team.
Awards and Achievements
Managed to achieve a lot in the career of Yap Stam. His biography will be considered complete only after reading the list of awards.
As a player, he won the following titles:
- In the seasons 1996-1997 and 2007-2008 he became the owner of the Netherlands Cup.
- In 1997, he won the championship of the Netherlands.
- Three-time winner of the Dutch Super Cup.
- Three-time champion of the English Premier League.
- Champions League Cup owner.
- Got the English League Cup.
- Winner of the world championship among clubs.
- Cup Winner Italy.
As part of the national team, he took fourth place in the world championship, as well as third place in the European Championship.
Repeatedly recognized as the best defender of the Old World.
As a coach, achievements are more modest: the Dutch champion in the 2013-2014 season.
Yap Stam: growth and other features
The athlete has always stood out for its parameters. Experts have repeatedly argued that it was thanks to high growth that he was able to succeed. And it is difficult to disagree with this, because its growth is 191 centimeters. But by itself, you cannot win victories alone, so this is rather just an additional factor.
Many attackers noted that fighting the Dutch defender was incredibly difficult. As for the game on the second floor, in this regard, Stam was the best. His manner of playing was often compared to the legendary Cesare Maldini.
Yap Stam had a wonderful vision of the situation on the field. He was famous for his ability to launch an attack with the help of a long pass.
Mentors who coached the football player spoke extremely flattering about him. Alex Ferguson in his biography noted that he very much regretted that he had sold the "Dutch giant." Carlo Ancelotti, who trained the player in Milan, has repeatedly said that Maldini and Stam were the strongest pair of central defenders at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
A football player forever inscribed his name in the history of football. Today he is a prime example of how to play defense. He also became an idol for many young football players around the world, thanks to his perseverance and aggressive manner of playing.