New Reading boss Jaap Stam quizzed Guus Hiddink and Ronald Koeman for advice

JAAP STAM has revealed he sought advice from fellow Dutchmen Ronald Koeman and Guus Hiddink before becoming Reading’s new manager.

By Alex Crook

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ADVICE: STAM GOT SOME WORDS OF WISDOM FROM HIDDINK AND KOEMAN

Manchester United legend Stam was yesterday unveiled by the Championship club after signing a two-year contract, with the option of a third.

Former Holland defender Stam played under Hiddink at the 1998 World Cup, when Koeman was his assistant.

Stam said: “I spoke to Koeman and Hiddink about the job.

“It is important to talk to different people who have been working in England at the top level over the past couple of years.

“I asked them what you need to know, you need to use the advice you get.

“In Holland they show a lot of English football on TV from both the Premier League and Championship so I know a lot about the league.”

Stam was part of the United side that famously won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble in 1999 before being shown the door by Sir Alex Ferguson over a row about his autobiography.

The former Lazio and AC Milan ace, who was under-21s boss at Ajax last season, added: “Reading are very ambitious like I am.

“They want to go back to the Premier League and eventually I want to do that as well.

“It is going to be very hard because there are some big teams in the Championship but we will try our best.”

Stam succeeds Brian McDermott who was sacked by Reading for the second time earlier this month just five months after returning to the Madejski Stadium.