In 1994, Jaap Stam began with 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 bought him and he won his first international cap in the same year. His debut, against Brazil, ended in a 2-2 draw, and he has been a regular ever since.

Europe's top clubs began to take notice of Stam, and in 1998, Manchester United paid a world record fee for a defender, £10.6 million, to bring him to Old Trafford. This dream move for Jaap - his boyhood club came just three months after he was named Holland's Footballer of the Year.

The year got even better during the summer, as he reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with Holland, falling to Brazil.

Strong, powerful, a brilliant ball-winner,Stam is one of, if not the best defender in the world. After a shaky start once he'd settled in at United, many of his performances were pure class.With Stam you can be certain that the United defence will be solid, he is, as Johan Cryuff described "a one man defence".

He had many great games in the treble winning year were he patrolled the defence and stopped anything from getting through: Newcastle away, Liverpool at home, Boro, Arsenal, Chelsea in the Cup,the list goes on.He also scored his first goal  in a 6-2 hammering of Leicester City at Filbert Street.Stam was a defensive giant and key to United's treble success.

In the following season 99-2000 it is fair to say Stam's excellence was somewhat hindered by incompetence not of his own making.The United defence was unsteadied by the continual interchanging of goalkeepers while Stam did not have a consistent centre back partner all season and had to make up for the errors of Micheal Silvestre.

These uncertainties did make it harder for Stam but he still stands head and shoulders above the rest as the best defender in the England. In his time he's had a variety of players beside him, Johnsen, Berg,Silvestre,May,Neville,Brown but as Sir Alex Ferguson has said "It will always be Jaap Stam and AN Other"

Tackling/strength - Stam can make the most vital of goal saving tackles,when he goes in he will  win the ball 9 times out of 10.Few players in the world can match his immense physical strength.

Heading - His height makes him good in the air for headed clearances.

Positioning/Awareness - He can spot danger and prevent trouble before it begins with his great reading of  the game.

Speed on the turn - It has been said Stam can be caught out if an attacker turns quickly with their back to him.