Stam calls time on career
by Alex Livie, 29 October 2007
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has called time on his career.
The Dutchman has enjoyed a distinguished career which has seen him secure major honours with PSV Eindhoven, Milan and The Red Devils.
He joined Ajax in 2006 and played a prominent role for the club, despite struggling with injuries.
Stam had hoped to play out his final season with Ajax before calling time on his career, but a recurrence of a knee injury forced him to announce his retirement on Monday.
"Before this season I spoke with Ajax and told them that I missed the drive to continue," he said at a press conference. "But they persuaded me to go on, although physical problems are the reasons for quitting right now.
"When I play I am more focused on myself than the team and that is not good, not for the team and not for me, because it reduces my concentration and causes mistakes."
Stam’s career highlight was helping United to secure the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999.
He was one of the most rugged defenders of his generation and represented Holland on 67 occasions.
His career started at Zwolle and he numbers Willem II, Cambuur Leeuwarden and Lazio among his former clubs.
Ajax, meanwhile, will take part in a friendly tournament in Dubai in January.
Four teams will compete for the $2.5 million prize [£1.7 million], including Serie A champions Inter and Brazilian giants Internacional Porto Alegre.
The event will take place on January 5 and 7 next year and the organisation is still looking for a fourth team to complete the participants.
Benfica won the tournament, called The Mohammed Bin Rashid International Football Championship, against Lazio, Bayern Munich and Marseille last season.