Stam pledges his future to United

Jaap Stam has pledged his future to Manchester United, stating that he would not regard moving to a different club as a "step…

Jaap Stam has pledged his future to Manchester United, stating that he would not regard moving to a different club as a "step up".

Stam made a winning return to the United defence on Saturday, overcoming an Achilles injury to help his team dispatch Bradford City 3-0.

Stam, 28, was signed at the start of the 1998/99 for a then record fee of £10.6 million stg, has been a stalwart figure at the heart of the United defence since his arrival. It is of no coincidence that United went on to win the treble in his debut season.

He told the club's official website: "I don't see another club being a step up. I would love to play out my career at Old Trafford - you feel you are making history here."