Sam Allardyce says he has no regrets on leaving Sunderland to take up the post as England manager in 2016. The former Black Cats boss, who succeeded Roy Hodgson, lasted just 67 days in charge of the Three Lions and became England’s shortest ever serving manager.
His exit came in the wake of an undercover sting by The Telegraph, which filmed him suggesting to reporters how to ‘get around’ FIFA’s third-party ownership rules. He was also shown negotiating a fee of £400,000 to represent an overseas firm that was hoping to profit from Premier League transfers.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn and chairman Greg Clarke arrived at Wembley for a series of crisis meetings in September 2016 and Allardyce left his post by ‘mutual consent’. Allardyce has previously claimed he was ‘stitched up’ but insists that the opportunity to manage his country was one that he simply couldn’t refuse.
“No I don’t [regret accepting the England job],” Allardyce revealed on Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast. “I could not believe that they were going to give me the job or consider me.
READ MORE: Sunderland told exciting loan duo can handle Championship football
“It was a chance that we threw our hat in the ring. When I had the chance before Steve [McClaren], that was one that come my way. To have the chance of managing England after you’ve just kept Sunderland up was just to good for me and it felt right.
“Me and Sammy [Lee] felt good, we did an awful lot behind the scenes to change things the right way, which is what we were told to do. Whether in the background, thinking back, did I upset them too much, did I try to change too much to quickly, that may be the case. Maybe then they used that as an excuse to get rid of me, I don’t know, you’d have to ask them.
“We changed so much at St George’s Park and we were getting into building a team to try and win the World Cup which was very exciting. Unfortunately that was cut short for me, which was a great killer blow. It’s one you put to the side but never get over but I have got a 100% record though.”
Allardyce won his only game in charge of the Three Lions as a late stoppage time goal from Adam Lallana guided England to victory over Slovakia in their 2018 World Cup qualification opener.
‘Big Sam’ took over at the Stadium of Light from Dick Advocaat, who was dismissed after losing five of their opening eight league games (D3). Advocaat left the Black Cats second from bottom and Allardyce got off to a strong start – winning 3-0 against Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby in his second game.
Sunderland spent most of the 2015/16 season in the bottom three but a strong end to the campaign saw them climb to safety. They lost just two of their last 14 games in the Premier League (W4 D8) to finish two points above the drop zone and relegate local rivals Newcastle as a result.
Their impressive end to the season saw Sunderland defeat Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton respectively. They also came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Liverpool at Anfield and held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.
READ NEXT
- Sam Hutchinson outlines Reading weakness Sunderland can take advantage of
- Paul Ince could welcome back Reading trio for Sunderland fixture
- Tony Mowbray backs Ellis Simms to shine during Ross Stewart's injury absence
- Tony Mowbray admits Sunderland were not looking for cover for Ross Stewart on deadline day
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray admits he must 'find a way' to cope without Ross Stewart
