Top 5: Things to look out for in the Championship Play-Offs

The end of Jaap Stam’s first managerial season in English football

When Reading unveiled their new manager back in June of last year as none other than former Manchester United legend Jaap Stam, many were left surprised and what seemed like the majority of people were already questioning his appointment.

The 44-year-old came from Ajax, where he spent two years working as a coach and then assistant manager, before switching to his first job in senior management and first in English football with The Royals.

Now, at the closing stages of the season, Stam has proved any critics that he did have wrong.

Under his leadership, he has guided the Berkshire outfit to a third place finish – amassing 26 wins along the way, losing only twice at the Madejski Stadium – and their best finish in the league since winning promotion to the Premier League back in 2011-12.

He will be aware that this is Reading’s sixth venture into the EFL play-offs, where they have failed to win promotion on every previous occasion, but under his management, this could all be about to change for the better.