The state of play
With that news, it’s time to close the live blog down for the time being, although if there’s any developments, we will be back. Otherwise, let’s do it all again tomorrow.
- Allardyce is unlikely to be announced as England manager today, with compensation negotiations between the FA and Sunderland still unresolved, but should be confirmed by Friday, with a press conference taking place next week
- The FA’s selection panel – Martin Glenn, David Gill and Dan Ashworth – recommended Allardyce to the FA board at this morning’s Wembley meeting
- Outgoing FA chairman Greg Dyke told reporters “the three-man group are convinced [Allardyce] is the right man, and I’d agree with them”
- Allardyce has spent the day at Sunderland’s training ground, and took training this morning, having told his players he would be leaving at half-time in Wednesday night’s friendly against Hartlepool
- Sunderland have begun the search for a new manager, with David Moyes widely expected to take over from Allardyce
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We have some news! And the news is... Sam Allardyce probably won’t be confirmed as England manager today, as the FA and Sunderland are still ironing out compensation. Here’s more from Louise Taylor:
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From PA, here’s half a dozen names that could end up on Allardyce’s backroom team. Warning: it’s not massively inspiring.
Neil McDonald
Allardyce’s assistant manager for four years at West Ham, and worked on the staff at Blackburn and Bolton. Has a UEFA Pro licence; currently out of work after leaving Blackpool at the end of last season.
Mark Taylor
First appointed by Allardyce as a physio at Blackpool in 1995. Has worked as head of sports science and medicine at both Bolton and Newcastle. Brought to Sunderland by Allardyce but was dismissed against the manager’s wishes.
Sammy Lee
Worked under Allardyce at Bolton, and was an employee of the FA while Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge. Also earned 14 England caps as a player.
Teddy Sheringham
Brought in by Allardyce as an attacking coach at West Ham and impressed the then Hammers manager. Left for a short spell as Stevenage manager, and fits the FA’s wish to have a high-profile former player on board.
Peter Reid
A close friend and contemporary of Allardyce for many years, and successful player whose stint at Sunderland inspired Allardyce’s methods at Bolton.
Kevin Nolan
Has worked with Allardyce at Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham, and recently tried out as a player-manager at Leyton Orient. Only 34, but could play a part in the coaching setup.
Here’s more on the news that Julen Lopetegui, tipped for the Wolves job last week, has been announced as the new Spain manager.
From Whitley over in the US, here’s another Allardyce specialising in emergency repair jobs:
Greg Dyke’s clumsy, al fresco interview is still the closest thing we have to an FA statement. Sunderland were reportedly informed yesterday of the FA panel’s decision, and have been talking to David Moyes in a bid to catch up the pre-season time lost. Anyway, do you fancy a quiz? Here you go:
One thing we can expect from England’s Sam Allardyce is a sharp increase in managerial head games, after the mild-mannered Roy Hodgson and standoffish Fabio Capello. Allardyce has rarely shied away from a spot of verbal sparring, with his ‘long ball’ comments as West Ham manager inspiring this reaction from Louis van Gaal:
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“The FA are delaying the announcement for maximum effect, before introducing Henry James Redknapp as the new England manager” reckons Stephen Cooper.
Speaking of the FA, it’s ten minutes until the shutters come down on the buffet. Here’s another haiku:
Haiku for you...
— James Donaldson (@jamesadonaldson) July 21, 2016
Big Sam meditates
Pondering airborne success
And Mark Noble's legs@niallmcveigh
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Former world champions announce their new manager...
Spain have appointed Julen Lopetegui as their new manager. The former Porto coach has previously worked with Spain’s U19, U20 and U21 teams.
OFICIAL | Julen Lopetegui (@julenlopetegui), nuevo seleccionador absoluto español https://t.co/MWHox8YRV1
— Selección Española (@SeFutbol) July 21, 2016
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Breaking news! Newcastle have signed Grant Hanley from Blackburn Rovers. Here’s some more news from the football world, while we wait patiently for news from Wembley. Sky Sports News are giving us a beginner’s guide to transcendental meditation.
José Mourinho says Manchester United have options other than Paul Pogba:
Mario Götze is going back to Dortmund, three years after joining Bayern Munich:
And Moussa Sissoko is apparently worth £35m, all of a sudden.
Back to limericks, for this strong effort from John Hayward:
There once was a big lad from Dudley
Whose Tinder profile said he was ‘cuddly’
The FA swiped right
The fans all took fright
But Sam said ‘relax, we’ll win ugly!’
There’s still no word from Wembley as to when, or if, we will get an announcement this afternoon. As mentioned earlier, Allardyce has Scottish roots, and my colleague Simon Burnton has unearthed the Allardyce clan crest, which looks ripe for Photoshopping:
Just like the FA, I’ve got the best man for the job when it comes to haikus; Joe Williams of Haiku Hole.
No messing about
Give it to the big fella
One nil to England.
Some more reaction, this time from a pair of managerial legends. First, Sir Alex Ferguson has said Allardyce is “the top English manager, and his many years of club management have earned him the chance. His confidence will inspire the players.”
Meanwhile, here’s former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson: “He’s done good jobs wherever he went. If you take a team from the lower part of the table, you have to adapt. He will have a very organised team, so why not? Good luck, Sam!”
And credit where it’s due – Jonathan ‘Soccer Aid’ Wilkes called this weeks ago:
More from the Guardian on Allardyce and the England job. Here’s Louise Taylor on why the Sunderland manager is the right man to revive England:
Meanwhile, here’s former Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer on why he applied for the England job in 2008...
He applied jointly with a retired orthopaedic surgeon – eight years before England were knocked out of Euro 2016 by a team co-managed by a dentist.
...or not. Still all quiet on Wembley Way, so here’s Chris Brock, with a rhyming haiku. Top that, readers.
Route one it will be
For a scrappy victory
England in Sochi
Thanks David. The FA’s meeting at Wembley is due to break for lunch in a couple of minutes, so we might just get some news shortly...
I’m handing back to Niall now, thanks for the haikus. Meanwhile, here’s Usain Bolt’s view, asked what he makes of Sam’s imminent arrival. He’s having none of it. “Personally I’m really disappointed in England. Every year I say that. You guys have the biggest league in the world and you have the best footballers, but no titles. It’s really sad.”
That didn’t take long. As requested a few minutes back, here’s the first known Big Sam haiku. Nice work, Dave Rowe.
Daniel Sturridge dive:
furious expulsion of
Big Sam’s chewing gum
Via BrandtCantWatch in the comments, a taste of things to come. (Contains bad language).
This just in from PA: “The surname Allardyce is of early medieval Scottish origin. According to the publication The Surnames of Scotland, it is “a territorial name from the old barony of Allardice in the parish of Arbuthnott, Kincardineshire, believed to be so called from the Middle English ‘aller’, alder, and an uncertain second element, thought to be the Gaelic ‘deas’, south (facing). Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor”. So he’s a south-facing lord of the manor. Thanks PA.
And so it’s back to the poetry. Here’s David Wall’s:
So Samuel is getting the gig
The FA have said ‘We’ll go big!’
But it’s doomed for a mess
At the wrath of the press
And he’ll leave in fake nose and a wig.
And this from Paul Crinion.
A big man once left Sunderland
In search of a footballing wonderland
But he’ll be over a barrel
When they lump it to Carroll
Even if he somehow beats Iceland
It was going so well. Anyone have a Big Sam haiku?
Lunchtime summary
So here’s the latest from our live coverage of FA suits enjoying a finger buffet at Wembley. What we know so far:
• Right now, the selection panel – Martin Glenn, David Gill and Dan Ashworth – are making their case for Allardyce to the FA board. The deal should be announced soon after. Outgoing FA chairman Greg Dyke appeared to give the game away earlier when he said: “I haven’t been involved … [but] the three-man group are convinced [Allardyce] is the right man, and I’d agree with them.”
• Allardyce has been taking training at Sunderland, and gave reporters a tell-all thumbs-up on his way in. He’s expected to be replaced by David Moyes.
• José Mourinho has given his verdict (see 10.43am): “Well it’s your country and I think you are a complicated country for the person who gets the job.” Antonio Conte was more upbeat: “It’s fantastic because you know that you represent your country, your colours … I am happy for him.”
• And that’s it so far. But here’s some lunchtime reading: how Rob Smyth called it ten years ago; West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell on how Big Sam “works on your weaknesses every day”; Owen Gibson on how this is one the FA cannot afford to get wrong; and an indelible image, via Sam’s autobiography: “I’ve done Freddie Mercury, John Travolta, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson in Thriller, which I think was my finest effort as I squeezed into some very tight black pants and nailed the Moonwalk. I’ve even dressed up as Cheryl Cole.”
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I’m going to hand over to David Hills for a few moments. I’ll leave you with another limerick, from Steven Eccles:
There once was an England head coach
Known well for his route one approach
He has working class steel
And a Northern appeal
Like the star of a film by Ken Loach.
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More of your views from below the line...
It's a decent choice in my opinion - if nothing else England will have a system that is based on analysis and that the players understands, unlike the bizarre throwing mud at a wall approach we had in the Euros.
Still don't get why some people have this obsession that the England manager needs to be English. Why employ a mid-table plodder when you could get someone better?
...and spare a thought for Sunderland fans:
Poor old bloody Sunderland! The one time we make a sensible appointment as manager, a bigger club come and steal him.
Ah well - have to wish him well and thank him for keeping us up last year. At least he'll be used to coaching not-very-good players.
Another Big Sam limerick, this time from Andrew Simmons:
Big Sam will lead England to glory
Fan clashes in Russia may be gory
Transcendental meditation
Will sweep across the nation
Another bizarre English footballing story
Transcendental meditation? That’s right:
Here are a few quotes (care of PA) from Allardyce, pulled from his autobiography, er, ‘Big Sam: my Autobiography’.
On England:
“I got England schoolboy trials, although I didn’t make the team. I never represented my country at any level, which is why I was so excited to be interviewed for the England manager’s job [ in 2006]. You should never give up hope and I still haven’t.”
On St George’s Park:
“It is a fantastic facility which gets some stick for being in the middle of nowhere, but if the FA had dumped Wembley and built the national stadium in Birmingham, as it should have done, the complex would have been on the doorstep.”
On dressing room discipline:
“’If a player came walking into the dressing room talking away on his mobile ... I’d take it off him and throw it in the bin, even if it was Wayne Rooney.”
On the FA:
“The more time (former Bolton chairman) Phil Gartside spent on the FA, the more I detected the influence of his blazer-wearing mates on him. He was interfering more and more.”
On tactics:
“I’ve always regarded losing possession in your own half as a criminal offence. There are more goals scored that way than by playing it out from the back yourselves. And as the facts show, most goals are scored from four passes or less.”
On ‘Moneyball’:
“I was assessing player stats long before it was fashionable in football in England. Now there are owners who believe algorithms determine whether a player will be a success or not. I would never go that far, because there are too many imponderables.”
On impersonations:
“I’ve done Freddie Mercury, John Travolta, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson in Thriller, which I think was my finest effort as I squeezed into some very tight black pants and nailed the Moonwalk. I’ve even dressed up as Cheryl Cole.”
On Andy Carroll:
“When fit he should be England’s regular centre-forward because we’ve missed having enough quality strikers in recent years in the mould of Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer. Rooney has had to carry the country’s hopes and we need more than him if we are ever to win a tournament.”
On missing out on top club jobs:
“The top clubs in England would not risk taking on me and my team. Nowadays they are rarely managed by anyone from Britain. They’ve got to get a fancy-dan foreigner in, it’s almost compulsory. Are they really any better than the coaches we produce in this country? Do they have more knowledge than we do? I doubt it.”
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Nobody thinks England can play
But nobody can know or can say
Allerdici he’s not
But Sam’s what we’ve got
That remarkable man from Dudley
Fair play to Gareth Duggan, particularly for trying to rhyme ‘say’ and ‘play’ with Dudley. That’s where Allardyce grew up and developed as a youth player – although his parents were (gasp!) from Scotland.
Leon Wilde has another limerick for us:
There once was a manager Allardyce
Who thought managing England was paradise
But after two years
Of brickbats and jeers
Humble pie he did have a slice
England are in action on the pitch right now – the under-19s, anyway, who are playing a Euro semi-final against Italy in Mannheim. Here’s the team sheet.
📋 The official #YoungLions teamsheet for today's #U19Euro semi-final against the @azzurri pic.twitter.com/dp5uujpbVb
— England (@England) July 21, 2016
Some more reaction to the upcoming appointment, this time from Chelsea’s Antonio Conte, who is fresh from international management himself. “It’s fantastic because you know that you represent your country, your colours ... I am happy for him” Conte said.
Understandably, current England players are keeping schtum until things are official. Former England stars with strong Twitter games have, as always, been quick to comment:
Every major football nation has a homegrown manager. Think it's right for England also. Therefore, Sam Allardyce was the best choice.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 21, 2016
So, @FA stay English with @England new boss, Sam Allardyce, I wonder if @SunderlandAFC will do the same?
— David James (@jamosfoundation) July 21, 2016
What we’re all wondering, of course, is how David Squires, who had so much fun with Roy ‘Supa Hot Fire’ Hodgson, will do with his successor. You can get a flavour from the picture on this, a very entertaining webchat with Squires from earlier this week:
“So the new England manager started his career at Limerick, eh?” begins Simon McMahon. I think I know where he’s going with this...
The FA found themselves in a jam
So a phone call was made to Big Sam
Will you please take the job?
We’ll pay a few bob
No pressure, just win the World Cup in 2018 please. Ta.
To clarify, the FA board are currently holding a meeting at Wembley, where the panel – Martin Glenn, David Gill and Dan Ashworth – presenting the case for Allardyce to the board. This part of the meeting could go on until midday or 1pm, and may be followed by a generously stocked buffet. Sky’s Nick Collins, thankfully not up a ladder this time, says an announcement may not come for some time. So, while we’re waiting...
@guardian_sport @niallmcveigh unbelievable the best the FA can come up with is a relegation escape artist.
— LesleyC (@ClaffL) July 21, 2016
The eternal question is this: does the England manager have to be English? If the FA wanted an Englishman in charge, Allardyce is one of just five English bosses in the Premier League – of the other four, two are newly promoted (Sean Dyche and Steve Bruce), Eddie Howe is only 38, and the other is Alan Pardew. Of course, the fact that Jürgen Klinsmann was considered suggested that the three-man panel were prepared to look further afield – it’s unclear why the best they could find was Klinsmann.
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Sam Allardyce: the story so far
Allardyce began his managerial career in the League of Ireland, with Limerick. After a brief stint at Preston, he managed Blackpool and Notts County, winning the Third Division (fourth tier) with the Magpies before joining Bolton in 1999. He stayed at the Reebok Stadium until April 2007, taking the Trotters into the Premier League and establishing them as a top-eight team.
After being offered the Manchester City job, eventually losing out to former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, Allardyce moved to Newcastle, but lasted just eight months. He rebuilt his reputation with Blackburn before he was memorably replaced by Steve Kean. A four-year spell at West Ham, securing a Premier League return but falling out with fans he called “deluded”. Now established as a man to secure Premier League survial, he repeated the trick last season with Sunderland.
José Mourinho has given his view on Sam Allardyce’s imminent appointment as England manager.
“Well it’s your country and I think you are a complicated country for the person who gets the job. I think he is the right person for that, I think he’s a good choice but I think he needs support and I think you can do better in respect to that. Because my experience in your country shows me that in the football world you could do a bit better.
“I think Sam never had the big chance at the highest level, lots of experiences in the Premier League but never that big one and now he has the big one.
Mourinho is clear Allardyce is suited for the role. “I think he’s more than ready, he’s a good motivator, he can create a good team spirit with his players and I wish him the best from my side, not just as a friend but my side as the Manchester United manager,” he said.
“The only thing I can promise is I am going to try and support him the best way, preparing the players for him, always trying to have the English players always available and in good conditions to help him and I hope you can do the same. Because it’s your time, in Portugal we were waiting and waiting and finally we got it. Now I think it is time for you because [19]66 was a long time ago so good luck Big Sam.”
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What’s coming up for England’s new manager? After the embarrassing Euro 2016 exit, the road to Russia in 2018 begins with a trip to Slovakia, on Sunday 4th September. Also in England’s qualifying group – Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta. There’s scope in the schedule for a friendly beforehand, with Fifa’s window for internationals beginning on 29th August.
Greg Dyke’s interview, on a kerb underneath Wembley Way, is something to behold. Asked about the three-man panel’s decision, Dyke said “I haven’t been involved ... I’m leaving, so you should ask [the panel].”
The outgoing FA chairman then added “the three-man group are convinced [Allardyce] is the right man, and I would agree with them,” thereby revealing the information he had tried to keep to himself.
A couple of your thoughts from below the line...
He's the manager England deserves, and probably the one it needs right now.
So.
Leicester City are Premier League champions, Britain is no longer in the EU, Theresa May is PM and Sam Allardyce is England manager. Can somebody wake me up before this year gets any weirder?
Allardyce’s appointment is also surely the break that Mark Noble’s England career needed.
@guardian_sport @niallmcveigh Kevin Nolan is waiting by the phone. Shin pads polished.
— George Evans (@evans_ga) July 21, 2016
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Big Sam spotted! But he’s a long way from Wembley – he’s in Cleadon, at Sunderland’s training ground. He’s given a thumbs-up on his way in. The Black Cats will be looking for another manager – their ninth, including caretakers, in the last five years. David Moyes is reportedly already talking to the club’s owners, and is firmly odds-on to replace Allardyce.
A couple of choice cuts from the archive, starting with a video looking back on Allardyce’s managerial career to date:
And here’s Rob Smyth, who called this a full ten years ago:
Not sure if serious...
@guardian_sport @niallmcveigh i think frank lampard would have been the perfect choice
— peter parker (@flashtickets4) July 21, 2016
Sorry, Peter. You may have a point. It’s been reported that Allardyce was more willing than other candidates to consider mentoring a younger successor. It may well turn out that this protége is a former England player.
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If you’ve been anywhere near Twitter in the last few weeks, you’ll have seen a laboured gag about Sam Allardyce at least making sure England avoid relegation. Except of course, with the introduction of Uefa’s new Nations League ahead of Euro 2020, he may end up doing just that:
Allardyce’s imminent appointment is dividing opinion, even here at Guardian Towers:
Quite excited by Andy Carroll scoring England's quarter-final winning goal against Brazil in Russia #BigSam
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) July 21, 2016
An air of resignation in some corners over Mr S Allardyce’s ascension. Sad really, given that he is English and England are not Brazil.
— Russell Cunningham (@cunninghamshire) July 21, 2016
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In trademark fashion, José Mourinho is the first manager to find himself near a microphone following Dyke’s announcement:
Mourinho: Allardyce is right choice for England job. I will do everything as friend & #MUFC manager to help him pic.twitter.com/FnzPY7rm7P
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) July 21, 2016
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Preamble
Hello. The worst-kept secret of the summer is about to be revealed, with Sam Allardyce set to be named England manager following the FA’s board meeting, taking place at Wembley any minute now. The three-man panel making the decision – Martin Glenn, Dan Ashworth and David Gill – are yet to make public comment, but FA chairman Greg Dyke has spilled the beans, confirming that they will recommend the current Sunderland manager to replace Roy Hodgson.
We’ll have all the news and reaction as it happens, plus your views on an appointment that’s been at different points in the pipeline for the last decade. Is Big Sam the right man for England’s rebuilding job?
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He's got a strong track record of getting the best out of an average squad so it looks like a good fit. The football isn't going to be easy on the eye but tbh I can only think of a dozen or so England performances in the last 30 years that were. Good luck Big Sam!