AS characters go, fewer are bigger than ‘Big Sam’.
Sam Allardyce, 68, has taken over the reins at Leeds United, after the faltering Yorkshire club made the decision to sack Javi Gracia.
A dismal run of results, culminating in a 4-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Bournemouth has left The Whites flirting with relegation.
But if anyone can handle the Elland Road pressure cooker it’s the former England boss.
A no-nonsense player that translated that approach to his management style, Allardyce won’t suffer any fools.
His roots growing up in Dudley, West Midlands shaped him for his career ahead.
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Early life
Sam grew up in a council house with police sergeant dad Robert, mum Mary who worked part-time making golf bags and older siblings Mary and Robert.
He said: “I was a mistake apparently after mum had a rare night out with dad.”
His dad taught him the meaning of discipline, which he has preached throughout his career.
Sam said: “My old man always said you only get what you graft for. It doesn’t matter how intelligent you are, how much education you’ve got, you’ll only get there on work rate.
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“My dad was a policeman for 25 years. Any problems on our estate were always sorted out by Bob Allardyce. If we got into any trouble we’d be in trouble with my old man.”
Football was his calling
After failing to impress on trial for Aston Villa, Allardyce was scouted by Bolton Wanderers at 15.
By 17 he had signed his first professional contract worth £14-per-week.
And it wasn’t just football he was tasked with mastering. He was also made to sweep the terraces.
He said: “Those menial tasks were part of a young pro’s education which we all accepted, but they don’t do it today because of objections from the Professional Footballer’s Association, which was extremely short-sighted.
“The PFA argued it was slave labour, but it taught kids discipline and make them appreciate it more when they became fully-fledged pros rather than getting it all the moment they signed.”
To supplement his income, 6ft3in Sam would take on labouring jobs in the summer, including doing up houses.
“I would go in and knock down walls and help out,” he said.
“Right as a very young kid from when I went to Bolton, I would always work in the summer anyway.
“I went cutting the grass in the parks, I went working in laboratories making aspirins, because you’d get paid more than you were earning as a footballer.”
No-nonsense
As a player, Allardyce wasn’t afraid to dish out the odd reducer in his time.
His nickname Super Sam Bionic Man came from the fact for every bruising encounter he would end up unscathed.
He was a Bolton hero in 1978, when he helped Wanderers achieve promotion to the top tier.
It was during this period he met his wife Lynne, who he has been married to for 49 years.
He said: “I met Lynne and I thought I’m not going to wait years, I’m going to get married and have kids and I’ll have to have my own house.
“I’ll have to graft for it. If I don’t make it as a footballer I’ve had experiences in-between that might help me.”
In the second half of his career he played for Sunderland, Millwall, Coventry, Huddersfield and Preston plus US club Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Managing became a natural fit when he took on his first coaching job with Limerick in 1991.
But he wouldn’t be able to lean on a star signing to rescue the ailing Irish club. Luckily, the chairman was a priest.
He revealed: “When we were short of money for wages, the chairman, Father Joe Young, put out the word to his mates. He called in a few favours. Divine intervention.”
Miracle worker
If God was his last port of call at Limerick, Allardyce must have called for the Holy Father at Notts County and Bolton more than once.
Working with a limited budget, he achieved promotions with both clubs.
Perhaps his greatest achievement was taking un-fancied Bolton into the Uefa Cup.
He was offered the Manchester City job, before the offer was withdrawn after Thaksin Shinawatra’s take over of the club was accepted.
Weeks later, Newcastle United hired him. It was to be short-lived.
He was sacked after eight months, following a dismal run of form.
Blackburn mediocrity followed, until he achieved Premier League promotion with West Ham, where he was unloved for his ‘brand of football’.
At Sunderland next, he would gain revenge on Mike Ashley, who fired him at the Toon.
Brought in to save the club from relegation, just like the task ahead of him at Leeds, he achieved the unthinkable in 2015.
A 3-0 defeat of Everton ensured the club’s safety. Better still, Ashley and Newcastle were relegated. His stock couldn’t have been higher.
England call
With the FA adopting a different approach following a dismal Euro 2016 campaign under Roy Hodgson, Allardyce was chosen as the next Three Lions manager on a two-year contract.
But, as the result of a newspaper sting, he would last just 67 days in the job.
He was filmed offering advice on how to get around rules on player transfers.
It was also alleged that he used his role to negotiate a deal worth £400,000 to represent a Far East firm.
Despite that, social media users focused on something entirely different.
Sat on the table, as he polished off a Chinese meal, was what looked like a pint of wine. It went viral.
One fan on Twitter labelled him a “National hero” for his drinking prowess… although it was never confirmed to be wine and was more likely a beer.
Somehow, in the face of controversy, Allardyce had won even more fans.
Trending on social media was something Allardyce was, of course, used to at that point.
Months prior, after saving the Mackems from Premier League demotion, he was filmed dancing to Rihanna on holiday in Marbella.
Also, just before he took on the England job, he showed he was game for a laugh on Sky’s A League of their Own TV show.
Bounding onto the stage opposite Jamie Redknapp, Andrew Flintoff, James Corden, Jack Whitehall and David Walliams – Allardyce showed off his nifty footwork by recreating the dance routing for Gangnam Style.
In recent years, he’s managed Crystal Palace, Everton and West Brom.
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His last job with the Baggies didn’t end well, with him unable to achieve to pull a rabbit out of a hat to ensure their Premier League safety in 2021.
Leeds fans will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
