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Oliver Jones

Sam Allardyce's relegation battle record that shows why Leeds United are rolling the dice

Sam Allardyce is no stranger to relegation battles, having been through them as both a player in the 1970's and 80's and as manager over the last 30 years.

The 68-year-old's last role in management was back at West Brom in 2021 but has been linked with the role at Leeds United after a poor run of form under Javi Gracia.

Allardyce has a big job on his hands though - the Whites are currently only out of the relegation zone on goal difference in 17th, having won just one of their last seven league matches.

READ MORE: Sam Allardyce told what he must do to keep Leeds United in the Premier League

But what has Allardyce's record been like in relegation battles? As it turns out, quite good. Here's everything you need to know about Leeds' rumoured new manager's past mid-season appointments...

Notts County - 1996/97

Allardyce's first appointment into a fledgling team came in the 1996/97 season where he took over from Colin Murphy at Division Two side Notts County.

County had only won five matches all season but Allardyce's arrival in January marked a streak of 18 matches without a win before a 2-1 win over York City in early April - one of just two in his first season at Meadow Lane.

While he was too late to save them from relegation, he kept his job for the 1997/98 season in which he bought them back up to the second tier as he lost just five league games and made the third round of the F.A Cup.

His third season saw a finish of 16th in Division Two, before he left to take over at Bolton Wanderers in October 1999.

Blackburn Rovers - 2008/09

It would be another ten years before Allardyce was called in by another team mid-season to save their skin and it was this time where his impact was truly felt.

Arriving at Ewood Park in December 2008, he dragged a 19th-placed Rovers side that hadn't won in 11 matches into a seven-game unbeaten streak including a 3-0 win over Stoke City in his first match in charge.

While form would be wishy-washy for the rest of the season, Allardyce did well enough to get a final league position of 15th in his first season there followed up by a 10th-placed finish the season afterwards.

Crystal Palace - 2016/17

Allardyce was once again parachuted into a struggling Premier League club after the Eagles sacked manager Alan Pardew in December 2016.

Joining when the club was in the relegation zone, he'd take them on a run of seven wins in 11 games across February, March and April to leave them 14th on the final day - with Palace securing their safety with an emphatic 4-0 win over Hull City in the penultimate game of the season.

However, just two days after the final day of the campaign, Allardyce resigned.

Everton - 2017/18

Six months after his resignation at Palace, Allardyce returned to management to help save Everton, who had been left in 18th by manager Ronald Koeman in November 2017.

Once again, his arrival lit a spark in the side, with the Toffees losing just one game in their first 10 under Allardyce before losing just two of their final nine matches in order to secure a top half finish of eighth.

Much like his role at Selhurst Park, Allardyce resigned at the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion - 2020/21

The Baggies were in desperate need of help as they'd been left in 19th by Slaven Bilic, who had been sacked on December 16, 2020, with Allardyce appointed as his successor later that day.

Unfortunately, despite big wins over rivals Wolves, struggling Southampton and a huge 5-2 win over eventual Champions League winners Chelsea, he was unable to keep them up as they were relegated in 19th.

Burnley survived on 39 points, while the Baggies' tally of 26 points wasn't very close, marking the first time a side managed by Allardyce had been relegated from the top flight of English football.

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