Jaap Stam is renowned as one of the greatest center-backs of all time and began his career in the Netherlands, where his dominant defending caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs. He transferred to Manchester United in 1998, becoming a cornerstone of their defense and helping the club win three Premier League titles and the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League. After leaving United in 2001, Stam played for Lazio and AC Milan in Italy before returning to the Netherlands to finish his career at Ajax. Internationally, he earned 67 caps for the Netherlands, representing them at the 1998 World Cup and the European Championships in 1996, 2000, and 2004.