On this day in 2016, Reading hired playing legend Jaap Stam as their first non-British manager.

Replacing the popular Brian McDermott after a 17th-place Championship finish and FA Cup quarter-final appearance, the former Manchester United and AC Milan great had no first-team managerial experience.

However, his debut season would be a roaring success, leading the Royals to third-place and a play-off final appearance.

Ending sourly the following season, the 2016/17 campaign proved to be just a flash in the pan- but it was the last enjoyable season supporters were able to witness.

Starting with a 1-0 win over Preston North End on the opening day, where are they now?

Ali Al-Habsi- Retired

Making a huge impact in his two seasons with Reading, the Oman icon won Player of the Season in both and was one of the best keeper's in the league.

Playing every minute of league action that season, he went on to depart in the summer of 2017 and moved to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Chris Gunter- Wales coach

Already a club veteran by this point, Gunter spent eight years with Reading and played almost 300 times.

Similar to Al-Habsi, Gunter played in every match of the 2016/17 season, doing the same in 2017/18.

Departing in 2019, the Wales legend has recently retired to focus on his coaching role with the national team.

Paul McShane- Manchester United Academy coach

Club captain for most of his three years in Berkshire, the Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a strong 2016/17 campaign.

Fazed out the following campaign, the defender moved to Rochdale before a sensational return to his boyhood club, Manchester United, to help the Under-21s.

Joey van den Berg- Retired

One of 12 summer arrivals, Stam brought the fellow Dutchman from Heerenveen.

Becoming a bit of a cult favourite for his strong tackles, he was a regular for two seasons before moving back to Holland in 2018 following the departure of Stam.

Jordan Obita- Wycombe Wanderers

An Academy graduate who spent 19 years on the books with Reading, 2016/17 would go on to be the full-back's best season for the club.

Playing over 40 times and scoring three goals, he would go on to suffer a horrific injury in September 2017 and require three knee surgeries.

He made another 29 appearances in three seasons before leaving in 2020, where he has become a mainstay in the third tier with Wycombe Wanderers.

Danny Williams- Fashion brand founder

A big-money signing following Premier League relegation in 2013, Williams was a mainstay for four years.

Like a man possessed in the 2016/17 season, the play-off final proved his final appearance for the club before joining that day's opponents- Huddersfield Town.

Struggling with injuries, the USA international played 41 times for the Terriers and Cypriot side Pafos before retiring in 2020 to start a fashion label.

John Swift- West Brom

Another to arrive in the summer, the Chelsea youngster was the last signing standing and stayed until 2022.

One of the club's most talented players since Premier League relegation, the 27-year-old scored the winner on Stam and his debut against the Lilywhites.

Making more than 200 appearances in the next six seasons, he joined West Brom on a free transfer ahead of last season.

George Evans- Millwall

The Manchester City midfielder was picked up by McDermott in January 2016 but he featured just six times.

2016/17 proved his most effective for the club, appearing more than 40 times, and another 22 for the following campaign.

Struggling with injuries, Evans has forged an established Championship career for Derby County and Millwall.

Garath McCleary- Wycombe Wanderers

Another long-term star, spending eight years with the club and making more than 270 appearances, the winger had his most productive season in 2016/17.

Scoring nine times, his joint-best Championship tally, he was deemed surplus to requirements in 2020.

However, he has gone on to prove doubters wrong by continuing to be a crucial figure for Wycombe in League One at the age of 36.

Deniss Rakels- Retired

A left-field signing from Poland in January 2016, he featured 14 times under McDermott and became a cult-hero for his stoppage-time winner in a 4-3 win over Charlton Athletic.

Starting on the opening match of 2016/17, a injury sustained in the EFL Cup second round would prove his final action in a Royals shirt as he made just three appearances before being farmed out on loans.

Roy Beerens- Retired

A third full Reading debut in the win over Simon Grayson's Preston, Beeren's was crucial in Stam's first season.

Making 43 appearances and scoring seven times after his move from Hertha Berlin, the former Dutch international failed to impress in his second season and played just 20 times before moving back to the Netherlands with Vitesse.