Former Manchester United centre-back Jaap Stam has made a claim that he was approached by Newcastle to take over from Rafa Benitez in the summer, but it does not sound plausible.
Speaking to Dutch magazine Voetbal International, Stam claimed he was approached by the Magpies, but had just started his new role as manager at Feyenoord, and being a man of his word, he could not consider the job at that time.
When asked about Newcastle’s alleged approach and if he wished he was now on Tyneside, he said: “Hahaha … No. You have been informed, because it is correct.
“Newcastle United applied a few days after I signed my signature at Feyenoord. So it was not an option right away.”
“It was beautiful and honourable, because the people in England apparently know what I stand for as a trainer.”
Of all the names linked with the Newcastle managerial post in the summer, I cannot recall Stam ever being linked with it, although that is not to say he was not approached.
It does seem difficult to think they did try to lure him, however, with him having just started a new role, and one at a club of a higher calibre than Newcastle right now.
Jaap Stam’s stats rate higher than those of Steve Bruce
Stam spent almost two years in charge of Championship side Reading, between July 2016 and March 2018. During that time, he won 41 of 98 matches, losing 36, and had a win percentage of 41.8, managing 1.47 points per game.
So his record as a manager is decent, but not outstanding, however, and why we would have seen him as the answer is not known.
That said, Lee Charnley decided Steve Bruce was the best solution, so that puts perspective on the counter-argument.
Over his career, including his 10 games in charge of Newcastle, Bruce has a win percentage of just 38.2, averaging just 1.21 points per game.
It is interesting to hear Stam say it was not an option “right away” and spoke about it being “beautiful and honourable” to be linked with the Premier League.
It suggests that he sees a Premier League position in his future plans, and if Newcastle did indeed make an approach for him, he will be someone to keep an eye on during his time in Holland, for if, or when, Newcastle realise that Bruce may not be the long-term answer.
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