Sam Allardyce
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United
.
As a footballer he made over 400 appearances and played for Bolton Wanderers
, Sunderland
, Millwall
, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Coventry City
, Huddersfield Town, Preston North End
, West Bromwich Albion
and Limerick
. Moving into management he took charge of Limerick, Blackpool
and Notts County
before managing Bolton Wanderers from 1999 to 2007. Commonly known as Big Sam, he led Bolton to a League Cup
final as well as guiding them to UEFA Cup
qualification for the first time in their history.
Following a spell at Newcastle United
from 2007 to 2008, Allardyce managed Blackburn Rovers
from 2008 until 13 December 2010.
Allardyce is the subject of a popular spoof Twitter
account "The Big Sam".
He was educated at Sycamore Green Primary School and later at Wren's Nest Secondary School. He was a boyhood Wolves
fan
and regularly attended Molineux to watch them play.
He joined Bolton Wanderers
as a centre-half in 1973 and is best remembered as a player for being part of the side which won the Second Division
title in 1977–78
to secure promotion to the First Division
.
Allardyce was signed by Ken Knighton
to play for Sunderland
for whom he played 25 times during the 1980–81
season. He also played for Huddersfield Town
, Coventry City
, Millwall
and Preston North End
, whom he captained to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1986–87
.
He played in the United States in the North American Soccer League
for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The football team shared facilities with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Allardyce applied many practices of American football
(gridiron) towards soccer (with regards to training, player management and tactics). These innovative ideas helped him progress in football management.
at West Bromwich Albion
in February 1989—ironic as he was a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers
, one of Albion's fiercest rivals. On the playing side, Allardyce appeared in only one game for Albion, coming on as a substitute against Newcastle United in November 1989. His spell at the Hawthorns lasted two years before he and Talbot were sacked as the club slid towards relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history.
and guided the League of Ireland
team to promotion by topping the first division with a number of points to spare in 1991–92 in his only season at the club. He made his League of Ireland debut on 6 October 1991.
season to take up the role of coach/assistant manager under Les Chapman
. Ten games into the season, however, Chapman was sacked and Allardyce given the role of caretaker manager. His short spell in charge was an impressive one with Preston putting in some fine performances, and picking up some much needed league points along the way. The club's board, though, felt that Allardyce's managerial inexperience at league level worked against him and opted in December 1992 to appoint the more experienced John Beck
who in turn appointed Gary Peters
as his assistant. Allardyce carried on with the club in his original coaching capacity for another 18 months, but his disappointment at missing out on the Preston job was apparent and, when in July 1994 arch rivals Blackpool
offered him the manager's job after sacking Billy Ayre
, Allardyce jumped at the chance.
included his leading the club, in 1995–96, to their most successful season in years; however, he was sacked (by chairman Owen Oyston
from his prison cell) on 29 May 1996, at the end of the campaign, after failing to secure promotion to Division One. Blackpool finished third, missing out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season, and were then beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Bradford City
after winning 2–0 away at Valley Parade
, only to lose 3–0 in the return leg on home soil. In matches in the Football League, Allardyce still has the highest win percentage (44.57%) of any Blackpool manager. Five years after his sacking, Allardyce stated that he still had no idea why the club relieved him of his position. "We had missed promotion to the First Division by a point," Allardyce told the Daily Mail. "Yet it had all been done on next-to-nothing, and during the months leading towards the end of the season, I hardly ever saw Owen Oyston. But he always assured me that, no matter what, my job would be safe. I turned up for that meeting having been told it was to discuss new terms. Instead, I was told that I was being sacked. It was cold, calculated, pre-planned, whatever. I walked out of there with ₤10,000, no job, and desperately worried that my reputation would be damaged forever." Allardyce then had a brief spell on the coaching staff under Peter Reid
at Sunderland A.F.C.
.
. He arrived too late to save them from relegation, but they won promotion at the first attempt by finishing top of Division Three at the end of the 1997–98
season. Notts County broke several club and national records, winning the title by a 19-point margin and becoming the first post-war side to win promotion in mid-March. He remained in charge at Meadow Lane
until 19 October 1999, when he returned to Bolton Wanderers in Division One and became their new manager.
, and had an eventful run to the League Cup
and FA Cup
semi-finals.
Bolton went one better in 2000–01
by reaching the play-off final where they beat Preston North End
3–0 to achieve promotion to the Premiership after a three-year absence. Allardyce said he planned to walk away from football at the end of his 10-year contract at Bolton Wanderers, when he would have been 56.
Bolton went top of the Premiership after gaining ten points from the first four games of the 2001–02
campaign. However, the Bolton squad was not strong enough to mount a sustained challenge and their safety was not ensured until the penultimate game of the season. They continued to struggle in 2002–03
, avoiding relegation by just two points and one place.
After two years in the bottom half of the table, Bolton substantially improved, and established themselves in the Premiership. The 2003–04
season saw Allardyce's side finish eighth and reach the Carling Cup
final, losing 2–1
to Middlesbrough
.
2004–05
saw Allardyce and Bolton finish sixth to win qualification in the UEFA Cup
for the first time in the club's history, equal on points with 2005 UEFA Champions League
victors Liverpool
. In the early months of 2005–06
, Allardyce once again took Bolton into the top half of the Premiership and also steered them into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Cup. Bolton eventually finished eighth that season.
In early 2006 it was confirmed that Sven-Göran Eriksson
would leave the England
manager's job after the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, and as a successful English manager, Allardyce was touted as a major candidate for the post. Bolton confirmed that they would let him talk to the FA
if they approached him. However, he was never offered the job, which was eventually given to Steve McClaren
.
Speculation arose on 28 April 2007 that Allardyce would quit as Bolton manager at the end of the 2006–07
season, a move that the board initially denied. However, Bolton announced on the next day that Allardyce was to leave the club after eight years, effective immediately. Sammy Lee
was announced as his replacement the following day.
Allardyce told the Mail on Sunday
on 12 May 2007 that part of his reason for leaving Bolton was because he wanted to win silverware. Allardyce said, "I have had praise for what I've done, but there's nothing at the end of it. I want silverware. I'm determined to get it before my days are over."
On 16 June 2010, Allardyce was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton
, having maintained close ties to the town.
Bolton employed both Sammy Lee
and later Gary Megson
in the same season but neither achieved Allardyce's success at the Lancashire outfit.
After the resignation of Glenn Roeder
, manager of Newcastle United
, on 6 May 2007, Allardyce immediately became the leading contender with bookmakers and the media for the resulting vacancy, and it was confirmed that Allardyce had held a meeting with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd
in London. On 15 May 2007, Newcastle United announced that Allardyce had signed a three-year contract to manage the club. On 21 May 2007 Allardyce had already axed six players from Newcastle United before the 2007–08
season had started. They included Olivier Bernard
, Craig Moore
, Oguchi Onyewu
, Titus Bramble
, Pavel Srníček
and Antoine Sibierski
. He made his first signing as Newcastle United manager on 7 June 2007, with Australian international striker Mark Viduka
from local rivals Middlesbrough
on a free transfer. He later signed utility man Alan Smith from Manchester United
, defenders David Rozehnal
from Paris Saint-Germain, Claudio Cacapa from Olympique Lyonnais
, Geremi from Chelsea
, José Enrique
from Villareal
and midfielder Joey Barton
from Manchester City
.
He concluded his summer business with late scoops for defenders Habib Beye
and Abdoulaye Faye
from his old club Bolton.
Despite building what looked to be a promising squad, and the team enjoying a good start to the season, after a series of disappointing results in the run-up to Christmas, and after gaining only one point from a possible six from bottom-of-the-table Wigan and Derby, there was speculation that Allardyce's tenure at Newcastle could be under threat, with fan protests seeing him unpopular for poor results and poor football.
On 9 January 2008, Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United by mutual agreement.
at Ewood Park
three days later. This was the first game of a nine-game unbeaten run, until a 2–0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa
. He led the team to seven more wins, including a 2–1 away win at Fulham
. The team only won two away games, but won five games, drew four and lost just one at Ewood Park
. Allardyce finished his first season in charge with a 0–0 draw with West Bromwich Albion
and a final league position of 15th.
In the 2009–10 season he helped Blackburn into the League Cup semi-final against Aston Villa
, but lost over two legs. Under Big Sam, Blackburn
remained mid-table for the duration of the season with an impressive home record . This home record also contributed to Rovers
going unbeaten against the so called 'big four' at Ewood Park
for the first time in 14 years, drawing 0–0 with Liverpool
and Manchester United
, 1–1 with Chelsea
and a 2–1 victory over Arsenal
. In his first full season in charge, Rovers finished 10th with a final day victory away at Aston Villa
, sending Villa
to defeat against the same side twice for the first time this season and Rovers
first league double over them for 11 years.
With England manager Fabio Capello
coming under fire after England's disappointing showing at the 2010 World Cup
, Allardyce has expressed his desire to become the new England manager should Capello leave.
On 17 September 2010, Allardyce claimed that he and Fulham manager Mark Hughes
had not had enough experience at bigger clubs. Allardyce went on to claim that if he was manager of Inter, Real Madrid
, Chelsea or Manchester United, clubs he claimed to be "better suited" to managing, that he would win multiple trophies every season. This was interpreted to be an attack on Arsenal
manager Arsène Wenger
(trophyless since 2005) continuing on from an unconnected row earlier in the week, and an attempt to promote himself with regard to the England job. However, the statement and possibility of Allardyce managing at such a high level was met with derision by members of the British press and supporters alike.
On 13 December 2010, Allardyce was sacked by Blackburn following a 2-1 defeat to former club Bolton Wanderers
, with Rovers lying 13th in the league. Sir Alex Ferguson
called the decision "absolutely ridiculous", while the Rovers players were taken completely by surprise by the sacking.
He helped attract players such as Abdoulaye Faye, Kevin Nolan
from Newcastle United, Matt Taylor
from his old club Bolton, and Joey O'Brien
to the club. His first game was a loss by a late goal to Cardiff. But he and West Ham bounced back with a 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers by an early Kevin Nolan goal. This was followed by a 4-0 win over Watford with goals from James Tomkins, O'Brien, Carlton Cole, and Scott Parker.
He later recruited a striker John Carew
on a free transfer, defender George McCartney
from Sunderland on a season-long loan, strikers Sam Baldock
from MK Dons and Paraguay U20 striker Brian Montenegro
on a season-long loan and a midfielder Papa Bouba Diop
on a free transfer. He concluded his summer business with late scoops on deadline day for midfielders David Bentley
from Tottenham Hotspur and Henri Lansbury
from Arsenal
, both on a season-long loan and utility man Guy Demel
from Hamburg for an undisclosed fee.
, were implicated in a BBC
Panorama
documentary for taking "bungs" (backhanders) from agents for signing certain players. Two agents, Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison, were secretly filmed, each separately claiming that they had paid Allardyce through his son. Allardyce denies ever taking, or asking for, a "bung".
The then Bolton manager was implicated in an exposé of the football transfer market. The programme, called Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets, was aired on the same night that Bolton beat Walsall 3–1 in the Football League Cup
, so he missed the original showing. As a result of the allegation, Allardyce refused to speak to the BBC. While he also stated he was going to sue the broadcaster in order to clear his name, Allardyce failed to issue libel proceedings, allowing the year-long window following the show's broadcast to expire.
The final report of the Stevens inquiry published in June 2007 expressed concerns regarding the involvement of Craig Allardyce in a number of transactions. "The inquiry remains concerned at the conflict of interest that it believes existed between Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce—the then manager at Bolton—and the club itself."
:
:
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
:
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
As a footballer he made over 400 appearances and played for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, Huddersfield Town, Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Limerick
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
. Moving into management he took charge of Limerick, Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
before managing Bolton Wanderers from 1999 to 2007. Commonly known as Big Sam, he led Bolton to a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final as well as guiding them to UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
qualification for the first time in their history.
Following a spell at Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
from 2007 to 2008, Allardyce managed Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
from 2008 until 13 December 2010.
Allardyce is the subject of a popular spoof Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account "The Big Sam".
Early life and playing career
Allardyce was born in 1954 at a recently built council house in Ash Green on the Old Park Farm Estate in Dudley. He was the son of Robert Allardyce (1916–1989) and Mary Agnes Allardyce (1918–1991). He has an older brother, Robert junior, who was born in 1951.He was educated at Sycamore Green Primary School and later at Wren's Nest Secondary School. He was a boyhood Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
fan
and regularly attended Molineux to watch them play.
He joined Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
as a centre-half in 1973 and is best remembered as a player for being part of the side which won the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title in 1977–78
1977-78 in English football
The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
to secure promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Allardyce was signed by Ken Knighton
Ken Knighton
Ken Knighton is a former English football manager, most notably at Sunderland A.F.C.Already at the club as a coach, he succeeded caretaker Billy Elliott as manager in the summer of 1979...
to play for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
for whom he played 25 times during the 1980–81
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
season. He also played for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, whom he captained to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1986–87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
.
He played in the United States in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The football team shared facilities with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Allardyce applied many practices of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(gridiron) towards soccer (with regards to training, player management and tactics). These innovative ideas helped him progress in football management.
West Bromwich Albion
Sam Allardyce was named as assistant manager (player-coach) to Brian TalbotBrian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...
at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in February 1989—ironic as he was a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, one of Albion's fiercest rivals. On the playing side, Allardyce appeared in only one game for Albion, coming on as a substitute against Newcastle United in November 1989. His spell at the Hawthorns lasted two years before he and Talbot were sacked as the club slid towards relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history.
Limerick
Allardyce then took up the role of player/manager of LimerickLimerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
and guided the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
team to promotion by topping the first division with a number of points to spare in 1991–92 in his only season at the club. He made his League of Ireland debut on 6 October 1991.
Preston North End
After his one successful season in Ireland Allardyce returned to England and to Preston North End for the start of the 1992–931992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
season to take up the role of coach/assistant manager under Les Chapman
Les Chapman
Leslie "Les" Chapman is an English former football player and manager and legendary Kit Man at Manchester City F.C. As a player, he made 749 appearances in the Football League in a career that spanned 22 seasons, playing for Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Stockport County, Bradford City,...
. Ten games into the season, however, Chapman was sacked and Allardyce given the role of caretaker manager. His short spell in charge was an impressive one with Preston putting in some fine performances, and picking up some much needed league points along the way. The club's board, though, felt that Allardyce's managerial inexperience at league level worked against him and opted in December 1992 to appoint the more experienced John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
who in turn appointed Gary Peters
Gary Peters (footballer)
Gary David Peters is an English former professional footballer and now manager. He is currently Director of Football at Hereford United.-Playing career:...
as his assistant. Allardyce carried on with the club in his original coaching capacity for another 18 months, but his disappointment at missing out on the Preston job was apparent and, when in July 1994 arch rivals Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
offered him the manager's job after sacking Billy Ayre
Billy Ayre
William "Billy" Ayre was an English footballer who played for three different clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five different clubs...
, Allardyce jumped at the chance.
Blackpool
Allardyce's spell at Bloomfield RoadBloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
included his leading the club, in 1995–96, to their most successful season in years; however, he was sacked (by chairman Owen Oyston
Owen Oyston
Owen John Oyston is a controversial self-made multimillionaire English businessman who is the majority owner of Blackpool F.C.. He was convicted of rape in 1996 and served three years of a six-year sentence in prison....
from his prison cell) on 29 May 1996, at the end of the campaign, after failing to secure promotion to Division One. Blackpool finished third, missing out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season, and were then beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
after winning 2–0 away at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
, only to lose 3–0 in the return leg on home soil. In matches in the Football League, Allardyce still has the highest win percentage (44.57%) of any Blackpool manager. Five years after his sacking, Allardyce stated that he still had no idea why the club relieved him of his position. "We had missed promotion to the First Division by a point," Allardyce told the Daily Mail. "Yet it had all been done on next-to-nothing, and during the months leading towards the end of the season, I hardly ever saw Owen Oyston. But he always assured me that, no matter what, my job would be safe. I turned up for that meeting having been told it was to discuss new terms. Instead, I was told that I was being sacked. It was cold, calculated, pre-planned, whatever. I walked out of there with ₤10,000, no job, and desperately worried that my reputation would be damaged forever." Allardyce then had a brief spell on the coaching staff under Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
at Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
Notts County
In January 1997, Sam Allardyce made his return to football as manager of the struggling Division Two club Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He arrived too late to save them from relegation, but they won promotion at the first attempt by finishing top of Division Three at the end of the 1997–98
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
season. Notts County broke several club and national records, winning the title by a 19-point margin and becoming the first post-war side to win promotion in mid-March. He remained in charge at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
until 19 October 1999, when he returned to Bolton Wanderers in Division One and became their new manager.
Bolton Wanderers
Following Allardyce's appointment, and despite being in the bottom half of the table when he took over (they were in ninth position), Bolton reached the 1999–2000 Division One playoffs, losing to Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, and had an eventful run to the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finals.
Bolton went one better in 2000–01
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
by reaching the play-off final where they beat Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
3–0 to achieve promotion to the Premiership after a three-year absence. Allardyce said he planned to walk away from football at the end of his 10-year contract at Bolton Wanderers, when he would have been 56.
Bolton went top of the Premiership after gaining ten points from the first four games of the 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
campaign. However, the Bolton squad was not strong enough to mount a sustained challenge and their safety was not ensured until the penultimate game of the season. They continued to struggle in 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, avoiding relegation by just two points and one place.
After two years in the bottom half of the table, Bolton substantially improved, and established themselves in the Premiership. The 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season saw Allardyce's side finish eighth and reach the Carling Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final, losing 2–1
2004 Football League Cup Final
The 2004 Football League Cup Final was played between Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough at the Millennium Stadium on 29 February 2004. Middlesbrough won the game 2-1 to clinch their first major trophy...
to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
saw Allardyce and Bolton finish sixth to win qualification in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
for the first time in the club's history, equal on points with 2005 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
victors Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. In the early months of 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, Allardyce once again took Bolton into the top half of the Premiership and also steered them into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Cup. Bolton eventually finished eighth that season.
In early 2006 it was confirmed that Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
would leave the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
manager's job after the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, and as a successful English manager, Allardyce was touted as a major candidate for the post. Bolton confirmed that they would let him talk to the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
if they approached him. However, he was never offered the job, which was eventually given to Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
.
Speculation arose on 28 April 2007 that Allardyce would quit as Bolton manager at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, a move that the board initially denied. However, Bolton announced on the next day that Allardyce was to leave the club after eight years, effective immediately. Sammy Lee
Sammy Lee (footballer)
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
was announced as his replacement the following day.
Allardyce told the Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
on 12 May 2007 that part of his reason for leaving Bolton was because he wanted to win silverware. Allardyce said, "I have had praise for what I've done, but there's nothing at the end of it. I want silverware. I'm determined to get it before my days are over."
On 16 June 2010, Allardyce was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton
University of Bolton
The University of Bolton is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region...
, having maintained close ties to the town.
Bolton employed both Sammy Lee
Sammy Lee (footballer)
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
and later Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
in the same season but neither achieved Allardyce's success at the Lancashire outfit.
Newcastle United
After the resignation of Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
, manager of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, on 6 May 2007, Allardyce immediately became the leading contender with bookmakers and the media for the resulting vacancy, and it was confirmed that Allardyce had held a meeting with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd
Freddy Shepherd
Freddy Shepherd , is an English businessman and the former chairman of Newcastle United football club.During his time at Newcastle, both as an active assistant to and later replacement of Sir John Hall as chairman for ten years, Shepherd proved an often outspoken and controversial figure, at times...
in London. On 15 May 2007, Newcastle United announced that Allardyce had signed a three-year contract to manage the club. On 21 May 2007 Allardyce had already axed six players from Newcastle United before the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season had started. They included Olivier Bernard
Olivier Bernard
Olivier Bernard is a retired French footballer. He announced his retirement after leaving Newcastle United on 16 May 2007.-Newcastle United:Bernard made his name during his first spell with Newcastle after joining from Lyon...
, Craig Moore
Craig Moore
Craig Andrew Moore , is a retired Australian soccer defender.Moore is best known for his two spells with Scottish Premier Division / Scottish Premier League club Rangers...
, Oguchi Onyewu
Oguchi Onyewu
Oguchialu Chijoke Onyewu also known as "Oguchi" Onyewu is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Sporting Clube de Portugal, in Primeira Liga, and the United States national team. Onyewu also holds a Belgian passport....
, Titus Bramble
Titus Bramble
Titus Malachi Bramble is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a defender. He is currently suspended by Sunderland after bring arrested for possession of a class A drug and sexual assault.-Ipswich Town:...
, Pavel Srníček
Pavel Srnícek
Pavel Srníček is a Czech former football goalkeeper.-Career:Srníček was originally signed by Newcastle in December 1990 on loan from Banik Ostrava by manager Jim Smith, who left within months to be succeeded by Ossie Ardiles - by this time his transfer had been made permanent, and he was soon...
and Antoine Sibierski
Antoine Sibierski
Antoine Sibierski is a French former footballer of Polish descent who played as a midfielder for clubs such as Manchester City and Newcastle United.- Early career :...
. He made his first signing as Newcastle United manager on 7 June 2007, with Australian international striker Mark Viduka
Mark Viduka
Mark Anthony Viduka is a former Australian soccer player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to the last 16.-Melbourne Croatia:...
from local rivals Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on a free transfer. He later signed utility man Alan Smith from Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, defenders David Rozehnal
David Rozehnal
David Sebastian Klement Rozehnal is a Czech international football player who plays for French club Lille.-Career:...
from Paris Saint-Germain, Claudio Cacapa from Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, Geremi from Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, José Enrique
José Enrique Sánchez
José Enrique Sánchez Díaz , more commonly known as José Enrique, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Liverpool as a left-back.-Early career:...
from Villareal
Villareal
Villarreal is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón.Villarreal may also refer to:* Villarreal CF, a football club based in Villarreal, Castellón...
and midfielder Joey Barton
Joey Barton
Joseph Anthony "Joey" Barton is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League side Queens Park Rangers as either a central midfielder or a winger....
from Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
He concluded his summer business with late scoops for defenders Habib Beye
Habib Beye
Habib Beye is a French born Senegalese footballer who plays for Doncaster Rovers on loan from Aston Villa and for the Senegal national team...
and Abdoulaye Faye
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye , more commonly known as Abdoulaye Faye, is a Senegalese footballer who plays for Championship club West Ham United...
from his old club Bolton.
Despite building what looked to be a promising squad, and the team enjoying a good start to the season, after a series of disappointing results in the run-up to Christmas, and after gaining only one point from a possible six from bottom-of-the-table Wigan and Derby, there was speculation that Allardyce's tenure at Newcastle could be under threat, with fan protests seeing him unpopular for poor results and poor football.
On 9 January 2008, Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United by mutual agreement.
Blackburn Rovers
He was appointed as manager of Blackburn Rovers on a three-year contract. His first game in charge was a 3–0 victory over Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
three days later. This was the first game of a nine-game unbeaten run, until a 2–0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He led the team to seven more wins, including a 2–1 away win at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. The team only won two away games, but won five games, drew four and lost just one at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
. Allardyce finished his first season in charge with a 0–0 draw with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and a final league position of 15th.
In the 2009–10 season he helped Blackburn into the League Cup semi-final against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, but lost over two legs. Under Big Sam, Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
remained mid-table for the duration of the season with an impressive home record . This home record also contributed to Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
going unbeaten against the so called 'big four' at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
for the first time in 14 years, drawing 0–0 with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, 1–1 with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and a 2–1 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. In his first full season in charge, Rovers finished 10th with a final day victory away at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, sending Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
to defeat against the same side twice for the first time this season and Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
first league double over them for 11 years.
With England manager Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
coming under fire after England's disappointing showing at the 2010 World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, Allardyce has expressed his desire to become the new England manager should Capello leave.
On 17 September 2010, Allardyce claimed that he and Fulham manager Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
had not had enough experience at bigger clubs. Allardyce went on to claim that if he was manager of Inter, Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Chelsea or Manchester United, clubs he claimed to be "better suited" to managing, that he would win multiple trophies every season. This was interpreted to be an attack on Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
manager Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
(trophyless since 2005) continuing on from an unconnected row earlier in the week, and an attempt to promote himself with regard to the England job. However, the statement and possibility of Allardyce managing at such a high level was met with derision by members of the British press and supporters alike.
On 13 December 2010, Allardyce was sacked by Blackburn following a 2-1 defeat to former club Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, with Rovers lying 13th in the league. Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
called the decision "absolutely ridiculous", while the Rovers players were taken completely by surprise by the sacking.
West Ham United
Allardyce was appointed as manager of recently relegated West Ham United on 1 June 2011 after signing a two-year contract. On his second day, he had to fight off speculation over his future as there was speculation over a change in ownership of the East London club. This was dismissed by chairman David Sullivan. Allardyce vowed to play attractive football to get West Ham back to the Premier League, according to the traditions of the club, rejecting the allegations that he played dull, long-ball football at previous clubs.He helped attract players such as Abdoulaye Faye, Kevin Nolan
Kevin Nolan
Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan is an English professional footballer who plays for and is the current club captain of West Ham United in the Football League Championship. An attacking midfielder, he has represented England at under-21 level....
from Newcastle United, Matt Taylor
Matt Taylor
Matthew Taylor is an American soccer forward who currently plays for SC Paderborn 07 in the German Second Division.-College career:...
from his old club Bolton, and Joey O'Brien
Joey O'Brien
Joseph Martin "Joey" O'Brien is an Irish international footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for West Ham United.-Bolton Wanderers:O'Brien started his career with Bolton Wanderers in 2004....
to the club. His first game was a loss by a late goal to Cardiff. But he and West Ham bounced back with a 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers by an early Kevin Nolan goal. This was followed by a 4-0 win over Watford with goals from James Tomkins, O'Brien, Carlton Cole, and Scott Parker.
He later recruited a striker John Carew
John Carew
John Alieu Carew , is a Norwegian professional association football player who plays for West Ham United and the Norwegian national team. His father is Gambian and his mother is Norwegian; he was born and raised in Norway.-Vålerenga:John Alieu Carew began his career with his local club Lørenskog,...
on a free transfer, defender George McCartney
George McCartney
George McCartney is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for West Ham United on loan from Sunderland. He began his youth career at Sunderland, moving to West Ham before returning to Sunderland at the start of Roy Keane's time at charge...
from Sunderland on a season-long loan, strikers Sam Baldock
Sam Baldock
Samuel Edward T. "Sam" Baldock is an English professional football striker who plays for West Ham United in the Football League Championship....
from MK Dons and Paraguay U20 striker Brian Montenegro
Brian Montenegro
Brian Guillermo Montenegro Martínez is a Paraguayan footballer who plays for English club West Ham United on loan from Deportivo Maldonado.-Club career:...
on a season-long loan and a midfielder Papa Bouba Diop
Papa Bouba Diop
Pape "Papa" Bouba Diop is a Senegalese footballer who plays for West Ham United in the Football League Championship and the Senegal national team. His preferred position is defensive midfield but can also play as a centre back, where he previously played at Lens...
on a free transfer. He concluded his summer business with late scoops on deadline day for midfielders David Bentley
David Bentley
David Michael Bentley is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United as a winger, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur....
from Tottenham Hotspur and Henri Lansbury
Henri Lansbury
Henri George Lansbury is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United, on loan from Arsenal.-Arsenal:Lansbury was born in Enfield, London and grew up in Potters Bar. In 1999, he joined Arsenal as a schoolboy from the books of Norwich City. He has featured regularly for both the club's...
from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, both on a season-long loan and utility man Guy Demel
Guy Demel
Guy Roland Demel is a footballer who plays for West Ham United as a defender.-Club career:Born in Orsay, Paris, Demel started his professional career in the French Ligue 2 with Nîmes Olympique. He was discovered and bought by Arsenal, and spent a year there before being transferred to Borussia...
from Hamburg for an undisclosed fee.
Corruption allegations
On 19 September 2006, Allardyce, and his son, CraigCraig Allardyce
Craig Samuel Allardyce is a retired footballer, football agent He is the son of former player and current manager, Sam Allardyce. He is the manager of non-League club Turton.-Playing career:...
, were implicated in a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
documentary for taking "bungs" (backhanders) from agents for signing certain players. Two agents, Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison, were secretly filmed, each separately claiming that they had paid Allardyce through his son. Allardyce denies ever taking, or asking for, a "bung".
The then Bolton manager was implicated in an exposé of the football transfer market. The programme, called Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets, was aired on the same night that Bolton beat Walsall 3–1 in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, so he missed the original showing. As a result of the allegation, Allardyce refused to speak to the BBC. While he also stated he was going to sue the broadcaster in order to clear his name, Allardyce failed to issue libel proceedings, allowing the year-long window following the show's broadcast to expire.
The final report of the Stevens inquiry published in June 2007 expressed concerns regarding the involvement of Craig Allardyce in a number of transactions. "The inquiry remains concerned at the conflict of interest that it believes existed between Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce—the then manager at Bolton—and the club itself."
As a player
Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
:
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
: Winner (1977/78)
As a manager
Limerick F.C.Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
:
- League of Ireland First Division: Winner (1991/92)
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
:
- Football League First Division play-offs: Winner (2000/01)
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: Runner-up (2003/04)
Individual
- Premier League Manager of the Month: Winner (August 2001, November 2003, January 2004, December 2006)
Manager
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Preston |  |
30 September 1992 | 30 November 1992 |
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| Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
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19 July 1994 | 29 May 1996 |
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| Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
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16 January 1997 | 14 October 1999 |
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| Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
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19 October 1999 | 29 April 2007 |
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| Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
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15 May 2007 | 9 January 2008 |
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| Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
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17 December 2008 | 13 December 2010 |
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| West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
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1 June 2011 | present |
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| Total |
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