Jaap Stam insists Sir Alex Ferguson was wrong to get rid of him at Man United
But the Reading boss says he's learned from the experience...he'd never a treat a player of his the same way
JAAP STAM returns to Old Trafford next weekend for a competitive match for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson axed him in 2001.
The Reading boss can't wait for the Emirates FA Cup third round tie with Manchester United - and the chance to catch up with Fergie.
Stam was a highly regarded across Europe as a top central defender when Ferguson sold him to Lazio for £15million in the belief the Dutchman's best days were behind him.
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As it turned out Stam play at the top level for five more years, three of them with Lazio and another two at AC Milan.
Looking back 15 years, Stam insisted: "Well, of course it was a mistake! I'm not going to deny that.
"I knew myself how I felt as a player at the time. And at that time you're not happy with it. But you know as well when you go into management that sometimes you have to make certain decisions.
"It happened and you have to go on with your life and you try to succeed somewhere else. And eventually in football you always meet each other somewhere. There are a lot of clubs but it's a very small world.
"He had the confidence in me to take me over and let me play and I've learned from him as a manager as well now. I'd have loved to spend a couple of years extra over there, but that's how it was."
And it's not all bad. For given a similar situation at Reading to the one Stam found himself under Fergie, would he do the same?
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"I know in the future if something happens to me with some player, do I do it the same way as United did it or do I need to approach that player differently?" said Stam.
Maybe the latter...
"I think so,' he said. "But it's a learning process for me as well."
One of the features of the cup tie will be how Reading cope with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Stam played twice against the enigmatic Swede in 2005-05 for AC Milan against Juventus and prevented his opponent from scoring.
He recalled: "I think it was quite even."
"It was a nice physical battle! He’s a quality player. He’s tall, he’s strong, he uses his body very well. For a big player, he has great technique on the ball, his first touches and everything. The first couple of yards he’s quick as well.
"He played for big teams, always scored, always won trophies, performed better than certain people who give comments on TV. You look at his career, he’s a guarantee for success."