Jaap Stam makes extraordinary Newcastle United claim

Stam agreed to take over Feyenoord in March, and he succeeded Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager at the end of last season.

However, Stam has claimed that there was also an approach from United. At the time, Newcastle were attempting to persuade Benitez – who went on to leave the club in the summer – to extend his contract at St James’s Park.

“Newcastle United contacted me a few days after I agreed to manage Feyenoord,” Stam told Voetbal International. “So it was not an option right away. I am a man of my word. It was beautiful and honourable, because the people in England apparently know what I stand for as a coach.”

Sources at Newcastle deny that there was any approach to Stam.