10 Hardest Players In English Premier League History
5. Jaap Stam
Commonly referred to as the "hardest man in football" - 'Yip Yap' Stam was a big Dutchman. He was also an absolute force to be reckoned with during his spell at Manchester United. He was such an intimidating, yet integral component in his prime that Sir Alex Ferguson still maintains the claim that letting this significant slap-head leave his pivotal role without much contention was the biggest mistake he ever made as a manager.
His fear factor wasn't only exemplified by the ulterior schizophrenic attitude he had at his disposal, it was embodied more frequently by his performances on the pitch, with a professional demeanour that far outweighed his aggressive nature - proven by the impressive fact that despite his troublesome attitude, his red card record remained squeaky clean until the bitter end.
He was a player who proved that you don't need to be dismissed to become an antagonistic legend, one whose legacy is still talked about today and is summed up voraciously in the potentially even more legendary chant that United fans can still recite over 20 years later.
Yip Yap Stam is a big Dutchman... you'll have to look up the rest of the lyrics if you're curious. It gets a little bit too explicit.