JAAP STAM

Date of birth: 17/7/72

Position: Defender

Club: Manchester United

Nationality: Holland

Notes: In 1994, Jaap Stam was turning out for little known Dutch club Cambuur Leeuwarden. A move that year to top division side Willem II was the turning point of his career, as several top-level performances for them attracted the attention of Holland's biggest clubs. In 1996, PSV Eindhoven came in for Stam, and he won his first international cap in the same year. Europe's top clubs began to take notice, and in 1998, Manchester United paid a world record fee for a defender, £10.6 million. This came just three months after he was named Holland's Footballer of the Year. He helped Manchester United win the treble in his first season and the league title in his second. He was also involved with Holland when they made semi-finals at both France 98 and Euro 2000.

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