Dutch Great Urges Manchester United To Replicate Ajax Model

Former Manchester United centre half Jaap Stam believes his old club should consider adopting a similar structure to that of Ajax.

Stam, who marshalled United's backline between 1998 and 2001, will return to the Amsterdam club for the start of next season where he will be reunited with a plethora of his former Ajax teammates who are dotted around the club in various positions.

Edwin van der Sar and former Arsenal star Marc Overmars take up marketing and technical director roles respectively, while Denis Bergkamp is assistant to first team coach Frank de Boer at a side where players steeped in the history of Ajax are now immersed in the day to day running of the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson has previously highlighted Bayern Munich's model as one United could learn from. Similarly to Ajax, the club have a number of former players placed across the board room, including Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Former United players Brian McClair and Nicky Butt have already immersed themselves in coaching roles at United, and with Paul Scholes heavily suggested to follow suit after retiring at the end of this past season, Stam believes the club could greatly benefit from the services of former players who understand Manchester United.

"They need to back themselves but, if you see those players with the knowledge they have got of what to do on the pitch, they can help players out in certain situations and make it clear to them," Stam told United's official website.

Although Ryan Giggs has signed on to continue assisting United on the pitch into his 40's, Stam also believes that the Welshman will be a perfect candidate for a back room role once he finally decides to hang up his boots.

"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 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."

Another of United's former greats hailing from Holland in Ruud van Nistelrooy is also poised to enter the world of coaching, but will be giving his services to Ajax's rivals PSV Eindhoven from next season.