Rio Ferdinand recently stirred up some debate by claiming that one of Manchester United’s former defenders, Jaap Stam, was even superior to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.

During Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, Manchester United boasted one of the strongest teams globally, clinching numerous trophies under his leadership. Many players from that era are still held in high regard by fans, and among them is Ferdinand himself, who is considered a legend at Manchester United. However, before Ferdinand’s time, there was another exceptional defender who graced Old Trafford.

Jaap Stam was signed by Manchester United from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £10.75 million in 1998. The Dutchman swiftly established himself as a vital component of the Red Devils’ defense. In his debut season, he played a pivotal role in securing both the Premier League and the Champions League titles. Stam continued his impressive form, winning two more league titles in the subsequent years.

Throughout his tenure, Stam made 127 appearances for Manchester United across all competitions, with 79 of those coming in the Premier League. Notably, he clinched the Premier League title in each of his three seasons with the club. Even today, he is hailed as one of the finest center-backs to have donned the Manchester United jersey, with Ferdinand remaining an ardent admirer of his talents.

In a recent video on Mail Sport, Ferdinand was tasked with choosing between Jaap Stam and several other renowned Premier League defenders, including Virgil van Dijk, John Terry, Ledley King, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, and William Saliba. Unwavering in his conviction, Ferdinand firmly asserted that Stam surpassed them all, including Van Dijk.

When specifically pressed on the Stam versus Van Dijk comparison, Ferdinand emphatically responded with “Jaap Stam!” This endorsement of Stam’s superiority over Van Dijk highlights Ferdinand’s enduring respect and admiration for the former Manchester United stalwart.

However, despite Stam’s immense contributions to Manchester United, his tenure at the club was unexpectedly cut short. In a surprising turn of events, Sir Alex Ferguson sanctioned Stam’s departure to Lazio in 2001, a decision he later regretted. Reflecting on this decision in 2013, Ferguson openly admitted his disappointment, acknowledging it as one of his significant regrets during his illustrious managerial career.