Jaap Stam has revealed that Newcastle United approached him this summer before appointing Steve Bruce as manager.
The 47-year-old turned down the offer having already agreed an extension at Feyenoord.
But Stam hinted that had Newcastle contacted him earlier, he might have been tempted by the job.
“Newcastle United called me a few days after I signed my contract at Feyenoord,” the Dutchman told Voetbal International.
“So it wasn’t an option straight away. I’m a man of my word.
“It was beautiful and honourable, because people in England apparently know what I stand for as a trainer.”
Stam began his managerial career as a caretaker at PEC Zwolle in 2009, but his first permanent managerial role was at Reading.
Appointed in June 2016, Stam guided the Royals to the Championship play-offs in his first season, but was sacked following a run of just one win in 18 games that left the side 20th in the Championship last year.
After a rehabilitating return to Zwolle, he succeeded Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Feyenoord, and led them to a third-placed finish last season, earning the contract extension that prevented him considering the Newcastle offer.
Newcastle eventually appointed another former Manchester United centre-half in Steve Bruce, who was born just 16 miles from the city.
The veteran manager has struggled so far, with the Magpies in the Premier League bottom three after nine games.
