Jaap Stam Has Left Reading FC

It has been confirmed that Jaap Stam is no longer manager of Reading Football Club after a dreadful last few weeks in charge of the club. Having taken the Royals to Wembley in his first year in charge, the Dutchman found himself unable to even get close to replicating those achievements in 2017/18, and he leaves the club lingering near the relegation zone after one win in 18 league games.

A club statement on Wednesday morning read:

Reading Football Club announce that Jaap Stam has left his position as manager of the club with immediate effect.

Majority shareholders, Mr Yongge Dai and Ms Xiu Li Dai, had wanted to give Jaap every opportunity to turn around what has been a difficult and challenging Championship campaign.

Jaap has not wavered in the time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try to steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in. However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary.

Fitness, tactics, substitutions, formations and more will be attributed as the reason for Stam’s eventual failings but his success last season can’t be forgotten as Reading once again enters a period of soul searching in determining exactly what it wants from its manager.