Sam Allardyce’s first act as England’s new manager was to inform his players that the time has come “to deliver”.
After Sunderland finally agreed a £3m compensation deal with the Football Association on Friday afternoon, Roy Hodgson’s successor made it clear he could not wait to set about the business of “making the whole country proud”.
The 61-year-old has signed an initial two-year contract with a view to potentially extending that deal until 2020 and seems anxious to create a legacy by exerting a strong influence on the country’s junior sides.
“I will do everything I can to help England do well and give our nation the success our fans deserve,” said a man who will almost certainly be succeeded by David Moyes at Sunderland, with the Scot’s appointment expected shortly. “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. I know we have talented, committed players and it is time for us to deliver.”
The unanimous choice of the FA’s head-hunting panel – comprising Martin Glenn, the chief executive, Dan Ashworth, the technical director, and David Gill, the vice-chairman – Allardyce saw off competition from Jürgen Klinsmann, Eddie Howe and Steve Bruce, who resigned as Hull City’s manager on Friday.
Glenn, impressed by Allardyce’s innovative use of psychology and sports science allied to a desire to restore England’s missing identity, described the former Bolton and West Ham manager as “the ideal candidate” and an “energising” force.
Although his appointment was endorsed during a meeting of the full FA board at Wembley on Thursday, its confirmation was delayed as Ellis Short, Sunderland’s irritated owner, played hardball with the ruling body, demanding £1m more than the £2m compensation payment originally envisaged for a manager with one year outstanding on his contract.
Accordingly Allardyce clocked on for work at Sunderland’s training ground for the last time on Friday as he waited to be formally confirmed in the post he had long craved but missed out to in 2006 when Steve McClaren was chosen instead.
"Sam Allardyce is the right man for the England job," said Glenn. "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 performed a minor miracle to save Sunderland from relegation after succeeding Dick Advocaat last October but, in a terse statement which will interpreted as churlish, the Wearside club failed to reference his contribution, let alone thank him or offer their good wishes.
“Sunderland AFC confirms the departure of Sam Allardyce, who takes up the position of England manager with immediate effect,” it said. “The focus of everyone at Sunderland AFC now is on moving forward quickly and decisively, with the appointment of the club’s new manager to be confirmed at the earliest opportunity.”
Allardyce’s staff are yet to be named but there are strong suggestions that Sammy Lee, his one-time assistant at Bolton, who stepped down from a coaching post at Southampton, could have a key role, while Paul Clement, Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Bayern Munich, may be hired in a part-time capacity. The FA is also keen to involve former internationals in some way and the possible candidatures of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand have been discussed in FA circles.
As Allardyce turns his attentions to qualification for Russia 2018, he will select his first squad towards the end of August for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Trnava on September 4th. His first match will be a friendly at Wembley on September 1st.
(Guardian service)
