Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson has paid the ultimate tribute to one fellow club legend after claiming he was the best in his position at Old Trafford.
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson had an illustrious playing career at Old Trafford during the 1980s and 1990s.
Widely regarded as one of the club’s best captains of all time – if not the best – Robson enjoyed incredible silverware success at the Red Devils.
The 67-year-old former United and England midfielder lifted two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup at the club.
Robson retained the captain’s armband at Old Trafford even after United legend Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson at the Red Devils in 1986.
The legendary former United skipper made a whopping 412 appearances for the Red Devils and scored an impressive 92 times before his departure in 1994.
Robson praises Man Utd legend
Bryan Robson sat down with former England manager Sam Allardyce and was tasked with building his all-time Manchester United XI.
The United legend’s ‘ultimate’ XI included some of his former club teammates, including ex-Red Devils captain Roy Keane.
When he was assembling his backline for the team, Robson opted for legendary former United centre-half Duncan Edwards as one of his two centre-backs.
The other centre-back spot was reserved for United legend Jaap Stam, who was described as a “man mountain” by Robson.
Robson insisted that former United defender Jaap Stam was the “best centre-half” he had ever seen at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, he said: “Alongside him [Duncan Edwards], he’s one of my favourites: it’s Jaap Stam.
“He’s a man mountain. And for being as big as what he was, really quick feet and very fast, but a great passer of the ball.
“So, Jaap’s the best centre-half I’ve seen at Old Trafford.”
Responding to Robson’s praise of Stam, Sam Allardyce said: “Wow, that’s a big one.”
Stam’s impact at Man Utd
Stam arrived at Old Trafford in 1998 after he was snapped up from PSV Eindhoven and created a long-lasting legacy at the Premier League club.
Widely considered one of United’s best centre-backs of all time – if not the best – Stam was a pivotal defensive figure for Ferguson’s legendary teams of the past.
The 51-year-old Dutchman lifted three Premier League titles and was a key part of the iconic United team that completed a famous continental treble in 1999.
Stam’s spell at Old Trafford was cut short after his relationship with Ferguson fractured and the former United boss sold him to Lazio in 2001.
Ferguson was reportedly unhappy with the United legend after Stam made claims about him and the club in his autobiography ‘Head to Head.’
The 82-year-old iconic Scotsman later admitted that he regretted his decision to sell Stam, who later played for AC Milan and Ajax in his legendary career.
Speaking to MUTV in 2013, Ferguson said: “When I think of disappointments, obviously Jaap Stam was always a disappointment to me, I made a bad decision there.”
