RITCHIE WOULD SWOP BIG SAM FOR TIME AT RANGERS
SAM ALLARDYCE’S reputation is in tatters.
But he will always hear kind words from former Rangers, Hearts and Scotland defender Paul Ritchie.
He played under the former England boss at Bolton Wanderers for five months in 2000 when they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup, and also lost out to Ipswich Town in the Premiership play-offs.
Ritchie has nothing but fond memories of his time at the club and found Allardyce to be a top- class boss and a brilliant man-manager.
He reflected: “Sam was a fantastic guy to work for. I’m grateful for the time I had under him at Bolton.
“In terms of what his backroom staff provided for the players, Sam was ahead of his time when it came to sports science, weight training and player conditioning.
“He also knew the game inside out and knew how to get the best out of players.
“Bolton reached two Cup semis the season I was there and I remember the pain of losing to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi and then to Ipswich over two legs to get into the Premiership.
“On reflection, it was probably the most enjoyable five or six-month period in my career.
“In hindsight, I’d have loved the opportunity to have stayed there and continued to improve under Sam.
“But the opportunity to join Rangers was there, and I had to take that.
“It didn’t work out for me, but I arrived there as a better player and more rounded professional. “Sam Allardyce had a lot to do with that.” Ritchie left Dick Advocaat’s Ibrox regime after just two months in a £ 500,000 transfer to Manchester City, without a Rangers first-team appearance to his name.
That took him closer to seeing what Allardyce was doing at Bolton, and he was impressed. “If you look at players Sam has managed during his career, you see some highly- tal
ented individuals,” said
Ritchie. “He persuaded the likes of Yourri Djorkaeff and Jay- Jay Okocha to play for Bolton, and that was brilliant business.
“Both players were majestic and helped light up English football.”
Ritchie was sorry to see his former gaffer lose the England job after waiting a decade to land it.
He said: “If any person in any profession crosses a line, then you need to expect there to be ramifications.
“Nobody will be more disappointed than Big Sam for what has happened in the past week.
“He worked so hard to get the job and had the ability to be successful in that role.
“But such a high-profile position means you are under intense scrutiny from the English media.”
Gareth Southgate has been appointed caretaker boss and he will be in charge when Scotland travel to Wembley next month to play England in a World Cup qualifier.
Ritchie would love to believe the Allardyce fiasco would have a negative impact on the Au ld Enemy ’s set-up – but he didn’t truly believe that would be the case.
He said: “I really can’t see that bothering England too much.
“Listen, if they had lost five or six of their best players then that would have them in a bit of bother.
“But they have lost their manager and have replaced him quickly with another coach, Gareth Southgate, who knows the set-up very well.
“Like every other Scotsman, I hope it doesn’t knock them a bit and opens the door for Gordon Strachan and the players to go to Wembley next month and win. “That would be the perfect scenario. “But they have so much quality to choose from.
“Exper ienced campaigners Wayne Rooney, Gary Cahill and Joe Hart will make sure everyone is prepared and focused.
“However, the Scotland team will be ready and capable of going there and getting a positive result.”
Ritchie will watch the game from his base in San Diego, California, where he is coaching and enjoying life.
But one day he hopes to return to club football in the UK.
He added: “Life is very nice at the moment.
“As you can imagine the climate is terrific and the facilities are first class.
“I’m coaching Elite players at youth level and the standard is very high.
“Ultimately, though, I do want to get back to Scotland or England and coach.
“I’m still young and still learning but I fell I have something to offer and I’d love to be able to give something back our game.
“But I just need to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.”