Jaap Stam is the new coach and has added a new assistant as well for this MLS team, as announced by GM Gerard Nijkamp.
At just 47 he is now at the helm of his 4th club, Reading of England from 2016-'18 then Holland's PEC Zwolle 2018-'19 and last year Feyenoord. That followed a great 15 year stint in the pros with many top clubs across the Netherlands, England & Italy, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester Utd, Lazio, AC Milan & Ajax.
Gerard informed "We are very happy and pleased to have Jaap Stam become FC CIncinnati's new head coach.He has an extensive background and has also proven tht he can guide teams through transitionary periods as a head coach."
Stam added "To get the opportuinty to work for FC CIncinati and this project by building the club-hopefully even further than where they already are, for me it's a big challenge to do well."
FCC CEO & Controlling Owner Carl H Lindaer III stated "We're excited to welcome Jaap to the club. We're pleased to have Jaap as part of the family and look forward to him joining us soon."
Jeff Berding team President told "I want to applaud the search that Gerard led for us. We're happy to welcome Jaap to Cincinnati and look forward to him leading us as we start a new chapter in our club story."
Stam is the 4th HC in MLS history and 5th overall for the team with a deal through the end of 21 and the has an option year for 2022.
What a playing career for coach the native of Kampen, Netherlands, began with hometown DOS Kampen then off to his first pro deal with 2nd div. FC Zwolle in 1992. Over 32 games, the defender had a goal, then a move to the promoted Eredivise team, SC Cambuur where he got 66 games and a trio of goals over a pair of seasons.
Before the 1994-'95 season he was onto Willem II staying in the top flite of Holland, England and Italian soccer for the last dozen of his playing years.
With less than 20 games for Willem he was then off to the big club of PSV Eindhoven for the balance of the season. His first full year there he was a big part of their league title and Dutch Super Cup-winning side. After the year he was Dutch Footballer of the Year. His 98 games and 11 goals for all games with PSV over three seasons were stellar numbers.
Now, set as a top middle back, he went to England and their PL team, Manchester United, they had 4 of the last PL crowns, they added another 3 as they took it 8 in a decade. They took a treble for 1998-'99 with the PL title, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League top spot. Jaap had 127 games, losing but 17 in his three years with Man U.
Next up, Serie A of Italy and the famous Lazio where he would spend half a decade. His inital trophy in Rome came in the 2004 Italian Cup and he would go on to 94 games with them.
AC Milan pickd him up after 3 years, and they took the Italian Super Cup his first year and reached the 2005 UEFA Champions Cup Final. He would total 65 games and a pair of goals all told for the team.
His time as a pro would wind down back in Holland as he logged 2 years with Ajax and a pair of Dutch Super Cups in 2006 & '07. 2007 had them take the Dutch Cup as he had 52 games with a pair of goals with them.
Internationally he was capped many times, 67 in total with a trio of UEFA European Championships, 1996, 2000 & 2004 and even getting to the 1998 World Cup.
Upon retirement it was back to the Red Devils as a scout in South America in 2008, back to PEC Zwolle as an asst. for 4 years. Ajax took him on in 2013 as an asst. as they won the Eredivise over the 2013-'14 year. After that he was to head the Ajax reserves, Jong Ajax in the 2nd div., spending a pair of years there.
Again to England as coach of Reading of their Championship League and a disappointing 17th place. His first year was remarkable as they went to 3rd and qualified for the Playoffs, they made it to the title game dropping it to Huddersfield and missing promotion to the PL.
Two years at Reading then to PEC Zwolle mid 2018-'19 as he took the #16 team to a 7-7-3 record and staved off relegation.
He spend part of the next year with Feyenoord as manager in the top tier of Dutch soccer.