Stam steps down as coach of Dutch club Feyenoord

THE HAGUE: Jaap Stam has stepped down as coach of Feyenoord following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of fierce rivals Ajax, the former Dutch international announced on Monday.

In a statement, Stam said it had “certainly not been an easy decision” to resign, with the 15-time Dutch champions languishing in 12th place in the league ater their humbling in Amsterdam.

“I have thought about it well and for a long time. My final conclusion is that it is beter for the club, the players and myself if I step aside,” said the 47-year-old.

The 1970 European champions said on their website Stam had resigned “with immediate effect”, adding they did not want him to leave.

“The coach certainly had our support and the players group wanted to continue with him,” said technical director Sjaak Troost.

“But if someone says: ‘I no longer believe in the project and don’t want to be here anymore’, then we respect that. What a shame.”

Stam played 67 times for the Netherlands but made his biggest impact as a player at United, with whom he won four Premier League titles and the club’s famous 1999 treble of the league title, FA Cup and Champions League.

He also won the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven in 1997 and played for Lazio, winning the Coppa Italia, and AC Milan.

However his short coaching career has been less glorious, with the high point so far taking Reading to the playoffs in England’s second-tier Championship in 2017.

Before his departure on Monday Stam had managed just three league wins in charge of Feyenoord, while his side are also botom of Group G in the Europa League ater winning one of their three matches.

They are 15 points behind Dutch champions Ajax, who are unbeaten and six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie.

Feyenoord are in the same Europa League group as Rangers this season but lost 1-0 to the Scotish side and are currently botom of the table with one win from three matches.