AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Ajax defender Jaap Stam announced his immediate retirement Monday, ending a career that included three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with Manchester United.
"Physically, I no longer feel 100 per cent," the 35-year-old Stam said. "During games, I was more worried about myself than the opposition. That is not acceptable — especially from somebody whose game is based on his strength. I want to give 100 percent, not 60 or 70."
Stam came to prominence with PSV Eindhoven, where he played from 1996 to 1998, catching the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
He transferred to United in 1998, the same year he helped the Netherlands reach the semifinals of the World Cup in France..
Stam was a key player at Old Trafford in the dominant teams that won the Premier League three times between 1999 and 2001 and the Champions League in 1999, the same year the Red Devils also won the FA Cup for a historic treble.
However, Stam was sold to Lazio in 2001, reportedly after falling out with Ferguson. He played for the Rome club until 2004, when he transferred to AC Milan.
While Stam was at Lazio, he tested positive for nandrolone in 2001 and was banned for five months.
Stam moved to Ajax in 2006, but has struggled with injuries for much of his time in Amsterdam and has been frustrated by the club’s European performances — Ajax failed to reach the Champions League group stage the last two seasons.
He said he considered retiring before this season, but was talked into playing for one more year.
"I started the new season because I hoped it would get better," Stam said of his fitness and motivation. "But after just a few weeks I realized I had made the wrong decision."
Stam made 67 appearances for the Netherlands and scored three goals. Besides reaching 1998 World Cup semifinals, he was in the Dutch team that reached the last four at the 2000 European Championship and missed a penalty during the shootout that sent Italy into the final after the match ended 0-0.
Stam again reached the semifinals at Euro 2004 before retiring from international soccer.