England boss Allardyce on cloud nine as Scotland await
SAM ALLARDYCE has Scotland in his sights after being confirmed as the new England manager yesterday. The 61-year-old has agreed an initial two-year deal with the Football Association, worth around £6million. He wants to appoint Sammy Lee, with whom he enjoyed success at Bolton Wanderers, as his assistant. Allardyce also hopes to bring in a more recent England international, such as Steven Gerrard or Rio Ferdinand, to complete his coaching team. He has been tasked not only with ensuring England’s qualification for the next World Cup in two years’ time, but also with shaping ‘a strong, purposeful team identity’ and getting the best out of the young, talented players at his disposal. And it is in qualification for Russia 2018 that he will come up against Gordon Strachan’s Scotland, with games at Wembley in November and Hampden next June. ‘I am extremely honoured to be appointed England manager, especially as it is no secret that this is the role I have always wanted,’ said Allardyce. ‘For me, it is absolutely the best job in English football. I will do
everything I can to help England do well and give our nation the success our fans deserve. Above all, we have to make the people and the whole country proud. ‘While my main focus will be on the senior team and getting positive results, I want to add my influence to the great work being done across the development teams at St George’s Park — a facility I have used with my previous clubs. ‘I know we have talented, committed players and it is time for us to deliver.’ The FA said the former Sunderland boss was the ‘unanimous choice’ of the three-man selection panel that comprised FA chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director Dan Ashworth and acting chairman David Gill. The official statement also heralded Allardyce as a coach ‘renowned for consistently getting the best out of his teams’, an ‘astute tactician and excellent man-manager’ and a ‘forward-thinker with progressive ideas’. While Allardyce’s salary is £500,000 less than that of his predecessor, Roy Hodgson, it is heavily incentivised in the new manager’s favour if he is successful. Glenn said: ‘Sam Allardyce is the right man for the England job. His excellent managerial credentials, including his ability to realise the potential of players and teams, develop a strong team ethos and embrace modern methods that enhance performance, made him the outstanding choice. ‘That was underlined when we sat down to talk and we could not help but be energised by his personal perspective on England’s future and how it complemented the extensive work that we are looking to build on at St George’s Park. ‘Dan Ashworth, David Gill and I have carried out a thorough process in the last three weeks and, ultimately, we could not look beyond Sam as the ideal candidate.’ Allardyce was still in Sunderland yesterday, saying goodbye to the players he guided to safety last season. Sunderland began talks with former Everton and Manchester boss David Moyes on Thursday as they seek a replacement.