‘Innovator’ Big Sam backed as ideal for England
SAM ALLARDYCE — who will be Pep Guardiola’s first managerial opponent in the Premier League when Sunderland visit the Etihad on the season’s opening day — has been described as the ‘perfect candidate’ for the England manager’s job by the man who was a central figure in Chelsea’s success under Roman Abramovich. Mike Forde worked with Allardyce at Bolton before moving to Chelsea, where between 2007 and 2013 he served as director of football operations and executive club director. He has also worked closely with Team Sky cycling boss Sir Dave Brailsford and recently co-wrote a book with Carlo Ancelotti, called Quiet Leadership. ‘I worked with a lot of managers at Chelsea and d Sam could hold his own with any of them,’ Forde told Sportsmail. ‘You are only ever as good as the players you have but when it comes to getting the best out of the players you have he’s second to none. ‘In my time at Chelsea I’d d say Carlo Ancelotti was thehe best at that and Sam is at the same level. He has done incredibly well in whatever situation he has been in. Players really do respond to him.’ Forde regards Allardyce as an innovator and someone who would fit perfectly into the FA’s plans for modernisation at the National Football Centre at St George’s Park. ‘In terms of his approach, his methods, his thinking, the England job would be a perfect time for Sam and he’d be perfect for the job,’ said Forde. Allardyce’s innovative thinking was in evidence this week when he had striker Jermain Defoe and the rest of his Sunderland squad doing water-resistance training at a pre-season camp in Austria. Forde added: ‘In terms of what they are trying to implement at St George’s Park, Sam would also be ideal. He’s very knowledgeable and he has this inherent curiosity that all the best coaches in any sport have. ‘He’s an innovator, a pioneer. I went to Chelsea to find the things their managers were doing were very similar to what Sam had been doing at Bolton. He would attract top staff at the FA because anyone who has worked with him respects his approach. Sam is a rarity.’