Well Sam, that was not in the script
Whatever one’s opinion of Sam Allardyce, he struck a very sad figure as he left Wembley on Tuesday after losing his dream job as England manager. It was just sinking in that he had thrown away the biggest opportunity of his lifetime after 67 days and just one game.
It is hard to explain why, after finally getting the job he had yearned for throughout his career, that he should blow it through some illadvised actions, which the Football Association politely termed “an error of judgment”. Only Allardyce himself can answer that.
It is also hugely embarrassing for the FA after having chosen Allardyce for the job and still trying to recover from the humiliation of Euro 2016.
Many fans were disappointed that despite having landed a very well paid job as England boss, Allardyce apparently wasted no time in looking at how to make extra money “on the side”. This perceived avarice did not go down well amongst the football faithful.
His seemingly rosy future disintegrated after a Daily Telegraph undercover operation using hidden video cameras, claimed to expose corruption at the top of the game. Sam’s fate was sealed by the Tel
egraph’s front page early in the week, headlined “England Manager For Sale”, revealing Allardyce in a situation in which he appeared to discuss how to get around certain rules. He also appeared to be negotiating a considerable fee to represent an overseas firm. Disparaging comments about former England officials, including his immediate predecessor, Roy Hogdson, did not help matters.
The rest of the media didn’t waste any time or pull any punches. “Sam Has To Go” said the Daily Express headline while the Sun joined in with “England Shame”. The Independent settled for “Big Sham ” adding that the England manager “quit after 67 days, one win and one awful own goal”.
Even the Times couldn’t hold back, calling Allardyce’ s actions “Wretched. Unacceptable. Seduced By Power”, while the Daily Mirror summed up the whole situation as “Toxic”.
For his part, Allardyce admitted: “Upon reflection it was a silly thing to do.” But he did add that “entrapment has won on this occasion” in a reference to the Telegraph’s operation.
Some people would support this view as newspaper “stings’’ are often felt to be a bit unfair in setting people up. Others believe he brought it on himself.
There was a mixture of resignation and anger amongst well-known figures in the English football world. Former England and Newcastle star Alan Shearer told the BBC: “I’m angry, I’m sad. I’m staggered at the misjudgment from a guy who said this was his dream job.”
Ex-England star Gary Lineker weighed in with: “The game is rife with corruption and needs cleaning up. Now!”
Among those giving Allardyce support as a friend was Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. “I like Sam,” he said. “I know that was dream job and I feel sorry for him.”
It was no secret that Allardyce had always cherished the England job, which makes his actions all the more puzzling. Twice before he was in the running — after the removal of Sven-Goran Eriksson and then Fabio Capello — and twice he was rejected.
When he finally got the job a couple of months ago he admitted “it is the greatest challenge I have ever had.” But the challenge he was envisaging was the onerous task of sorting out an under-performing England squad, not off the field matters that have got him in such a mess.
The abrupt Allardyce departure looks like it may only be the tip of the iceberg in what the Telegraph has uncovered. The newspaper claims up to eight current and former Premier League managers may be implicated in suspected corruption mainly associated with transfers.
These claims are already creating waves (and denials) at Barnsley, Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United. More clubs may come under the spotlight. The story will not go away.
Temporarily taking over the reins from Allardyce, is Gareth Southgate, the England U21 manager, who unfortunately is best remembered for missing a vital penalty in the shoot-out against Germany in the Euro 1996 semi-final. Southgate once commented: “I am sure that people will always say: ‘He’s the idiot who missed that penalty’.”
If things go well while he is in charge, with World Cup qualifiers against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland coming up, Southgate may even find himself in the running for the full-time job, although whether he would want it is another matter. The post is widely regarded as a poisoned chalice.
Many also feel that the mildmannered Southgate doesn’t have a strong enough personality to take on the England job and handle the dressing room egos. It is fortunate for England that, on paper at least, they haven’t got any really demanding matches, although most Scots would disagree.
Southgate is on record as saying the England job should go to an Englishman. He told The Guardian: “I don’t see the point of having a national team, with a national anthem and patriotism, but a foreign coach.”
In his autobiography published in 2015, Allardyce wrote: “For the record, I’ve never taken a bung in my life. I might have enjoyed a meal or bottle of wine on an agent or two, but that was it… I didn’t need a little bit of extra from an agent. It would have been madness.”
One suspects this is not the last we have seen of Allardyce. As he said this week “Football is in my veins and I am not a quitter.”