Stam: Giggs, Scholes & Butt Can Nurture United’s Next Generation

Former Manchester United defender and fan favourite Jaap Stam has backed Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt to help bring through the next generation of talent at Old Trafford.

Stam is set to assume a coaching role with former club Ajax and joins a long list of ex players to take up positions, with former United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar also joining the staff. Ajax have just won back to back Eredivisie titles lead by Frank de Boer and Denis Bergkamp, and Stam believes United too will benefit from recruiting familiar faces.

Giggs, Scholes and Butt were all part of the 1992 FA Youth Cup winning team and have been lined up for coaching roles at the club, with Butt already assuming his role, working with Warren Joyce’s u21 side.

The midfielder has already enjoyed success as the side were named u21 champions last night and Stam has backed all 3 to carry on United’s tradition of developing fine youngsters.

Asked if United could benefit from a similar set up, the defender told ManUtd.Com:

“I’m sure of it. Of course, they need to back themselves but, if you see those players with the knowledge they have got of what do on the pitch, they can help players out in certain situations and make it clear to them.

“I think players develop even quicker if players like that help them out in a certain way at a younger age. Ryan Giggs is amazing with what he is doing every time I see him. I am thinking: ‘Well, well. I could have done that as well but I don’t really think so!’.

“I think Sir Alex Ferguson managed him very well as a player of a certain age sometimes needs a rest at certain times. His skills are very important for United so he’s got a good mixture between playing and having a rest. I think that’s very important at United.

“I appreciate what Scholesy and Giggsy have been doing and what they’ve done for the club. It’s great and, like I’ve spoken before, at United in the first team, you’ve got young players in there as well as players like Scholes and Giggs and that can only help those players joining the first team.”