Allardyce appointed as Sunderland manager
Sam Allardyce told their Official web site “I have enjoyed my break from football and now I’m raring to get back. I met with Ellis and we spoke at length about the club and his ambitions and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I hope to be able to help to bring the stability and success that everyone wants.Of course it’s a challenging job, but it’s something I have experience of in the past. I’m looking forward to working with the players and of course I will be relying on the help of the Sunderland supporters, whose tremendous passion I have experienced first-hand. I can’t wait to get started.”
Chairman Ellis Short added:“Sunderland is a club he knows well and he was the obvious best choice for the job. He has vast experience of managing in the Premier League and an understanding first-hand of the north east and the passion of our fans, which will stand him in great stead.
The process was made easier by the fact that Sam was such an obvious choice.The other misconception is that Sam had to be persuaded to join us; nothing could be further from the truth. From the very beginning, he understood the importance of this job and showed great enthusiasm for the role and a desire to be part of moving this club forward.”
He played 25 games for Sunderland between 1980-1981, that means he will be back at the Boleyn Ground next year on Saturday 27th February when West Ham take on the Mackems again.
Over his management career with Preston North End, Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham, Allardyce has a 39.3 per cent win record – with 362 victories, 245 draws and 314 losses from his 921 games.