Jaap Stam has thrown is hat in the ring for coaching Manchester United. The Red Devils have an upcoming vacancy in the dugout, with Ralf Rangnick set to move upstairs in the summer to take charge as a consultant.

The club are already underway in conducting interviews, with Ajax’s Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino of Paris Saint-Germain under consideration. Reports are conflicting as to who has the edge out of the pair, but former defender of the club Stam says that he would be more than willing to take a seat in the dugout if given the opportunity.

“If they would ask me, I would do it straight away without a doubt,” the 49-year-old told bettingexpert. “You know United is my life as well. I’ve had great seasons over there, won trophies and it’s been very important for me. In any way, if I could help them out, I would be tempted to do it.”

“I know they are probably not going to come and call me, but also in a different role, and that counts I think for every player who has played for United. I think everyone is very eager to help the club and hopefully, bring them to the absolute top level.”

He continued: “Like I said, you never know, that would be interesting.“It’s all about owners, it’s all about technical directors, it’s all about coaches that step in, who do they want as assistant coaches. That’s how it goes.”

Stam is a club legend for his brilliant stint at OId Trafford, finishing in each of his three seasons as the Premier League champion.

The Dutchman also helped Manchester United secure the historic treble in his debut campaign – winning the Champions League and FA Cup in 1999 as well as the Premier League.

He was famously sold by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2001 to Lazio despite putting in some spellbinding displays for United. It was thought the reason for this was the autobiography Stam had put out in which he commented about some of his United team-mates but the former United boss revealed the real reason in 2007.

The Scotsman said: “At the time he had just come back from an Achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit. We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre-back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake. He is still playing for Ajax at a really good level.”

Stam has managed the likes of Reading, Feyenoord, and most recently FC Cincinnati. He was dismissed after winning just four of 25 games in the Eastern Conference.