Big Sam is England’s main man
Allardyce will be new England manager
SAM Allardyce will be named England manager after winning the race to succeed Roy Hodgson, it emerged last night.
SAM ALLARDYCE will be confirmed as England’s new manager within the next 24 hours.
The Sunderland chief’s name will be put forward at an FA board meeting today to be ratified before he is officially confirmed.
Starsport told you on Tuesday that he was the FA’s preferred choice to replace Roy Hodgson and would be handed the job by the end of this week.
The 61-year-old is set to land a three-year deal worth around £3.5m a year.
He was interviewed by FA vice-chairman David Gill, chief executive Martin Glenn and technical director Dan Ashworth.
Steve Bruce, Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klinsmann were also spoken to but Allardyce is the man they now want having snubbed him in 2006 when Steve McClaren was given the job instead.
Personal terms and compensation for Sunderland, where Allardyce h as just over a year left on his Stadium of Light contract, are still to be thrashed out.
But the FA have got their man even though they have yet to confirm his appointment. Glenn revealed said yesterday: “We are getting close.”
Allardyce was at Hartlepool last night for a friendly but didn’t resume his place in the dugout after the break. He made a dash for the exit before the final whistle.
His first competitive game in charge for England will be a World Cup qualifier in
Slovakia on Sunday, September 4 but he could get a Wembley welcome days earlier with FA chiefs hoping to stage a friendly.
Allardyce, who will become the 15th permanent England boss, has taken charge of 467 Premier League games for Bolton, Blackburn, Newcastle, West Ham and Sunderland.
Only Sir Alex Ferguson – who threw his weight behind Allardyce – Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp have more top-flight experience in English football.
Allardyce has worked his way up after launching his managerial career with League of Ireland side Limerick in 1991 and joining Blackpool three years later.
He has built a career on getting the most out of unfancied sides and players who had been largely discarded elsewhere.
A renowned disciplinarian, Allardyce adopted innovative principles after taking Bolton up to the top flight. He embraced modern sport science methods and introduced a ‘bible of excellence’ which detailed the standards he expected of his players.
Allardyce has never won a major trophy and has a 33.6 win percentage in the Premier League.
He joked in the past that he does not have a name fancy enough to be considered for a top-four club.
“I’m not called Allardici, just Allardyce,” he said in 2012.
His final act in club management was to save Sunderland from the drop last season while keeping a top-flight relegation off his CV.
Allardyce’s first task on the international stage will be to pick up the pieces after the embarrassing elimination at the Euros.
Hodgson quit after a last-16 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, the latest in a long line of tournament failures for England.
Glenn said: “We’re not after a short-term mercenary, someone to do the job for a couple of years. We’ve got to make the right decision, and get it recommended.”
Sunderland are expected to appoint David Moyes as Allardyce’s replacement.
They said in a statement last night: “We share the anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them we are working to conclude the matter in the best interests of Sunderland.” CRICKET Specsavers County Championship Division One – Southampton: NatWest T20 Headingley: CYCLING Tour de France – Stage 17 Selected others: 11 12 37 Blast North 3 2 – SPEEDWAY Elite League: Travel Plus National TENNIS ATP & WTA Citi Open men’s 2nd rd: TODAY’S DIARY FOOTBALL UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying rd, 2nd leg AEK Larnaca (3) v Cliftonville (2) (6pm) .. Brondby (1) v Hibernian (0) (7pm) ............ Connah’s Q(0) v Vojvodina (1) (6.45pm).. Cork City (1) v BK Hacken (1) (7.45pm) ... Hearts (0) v Birkirkara (0) (8pm) ............... St Patricks (1) v Din Minsk (1) (7.45pm)... Ventspils (0) v Aberdeen (3) (4pm) ........... Friendlies: CRICKET One-Day Tri-Series – Northampton: NatWest T20 Blast South – Lord’s: County Ground: League: CYCLING Tour de France – GOLF USPGA Tour – RBC Canadian Open RUGBY LEAGUE First Utility Super League Hull KR v Leeds (8pm) ....................................... SPEEDWAY Elite League: Premier League: Premier League KO Cup qtr-final, 2nd leg: Travel Plus National League: Julie Lewis Memorial: stage 18