Allardyce ‘ very proud’ to be England manager, refuses to make predictions

Sam Allardyce said Monday that he was “very proud” to be named the new England manager, but refused to confirm that star striker Wayne Rooney would remain as captain.

The 61- year- old succeeds Roy Hodgson, who quit after England humiliatingly lost to minnows Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016, triggering another bout of soul- searching in English soccer.

The fate of Rooney – both as a starter in the team and as skipper – is among the weighty issues Allardyce will need to confront.

“It is far too early to make any predictions, and I will not make any decisions until I meet the players and coaching staff,” said Allardyce, who revealed that Sammy Lee, an assistant to him at Bolton who has previous England experience under Sven- Goran Eriksson, would be part of his backroom staff.

Allardyce, who looked relaxed to the extent he dispensed with the formal attire of a tie, said his strength was his well- earned reputation as a man capable of going in and motivating the players to believe in themselves.

“It is 10 years since I was last interviewed, and to be here is a huge thrill for me,” said Allardyce, who lost out to Steve McClaren after Eriksson stepped down following the 2006 World Cup.

“I fit the chair – I hope I do – and I have the experience to pass on and to challenge the team and myself.

“Man- management is my biggest asset – one, to help the players enjoy themselves, and two, to make them better than they already are.

“I can turn things around, and I start by doing that by getting amongst the staff and the team and setting out on a journey.”