Graham Potter moved to Swansea City in June 2018 on a three year contract. The manager was coming from a very successful period with Östersunds FK, and had been building his reputation with good work in Swedish football.
He wasn’t the only man Swansea were keen on at the time, with the Welsh club targeting several possibilities, before putting all their efforts into getting Potter.
Jaap Stam, who had left Reading the previous March, was one of the men repeatedly linked with a move to Swansea, who had just faced relegation from the Premier League.
Now the former Manchester United and Netherlands defender has spoken about the situation, and explained why he thought the move just wasn’t right for him at the time.
Speaking to Helden magazine, and covered by Dutch website Soccer News, Stam said: “I didn’t do anything for six months, I had a lot of offers, but mostly, from China, even from Iran, and also from a Championship club. I almost signed with Swansea City, but in the end I wanted to stay in the Netherlands, especially for the children.
“I didn’t like an adventure far away without my wife and children. Yes, then PEC came at the end of last year. I didn’t have to think about it very long. PEC is my club anyway.”
PEC Zwolle are currently eleventh in the Eredivisie, and it’s already been announced that Stam will move to Feyenoord, currently in third place, at the end of the current season.
He’ll no doubt feel he made the right decision.
