Sam Allardyce is the first England manager who also managed in the League of Ireland.
Big Sam spent a year at Limerick FC in the early 1990s and was today unveiled as the latest man to try and achieve whatever it is that’s considered success with England.
Whatever you think of Allardyce, it’s nice to see someone who has worked his way through many clubs, and many divisions, get a tilt at a big job.
And for Big Sam, it all began as player-manager of Limerick FC, and he was keen to namecheck his roots and reference the work he did by the Shannon, at his opening press conference.
Here's new England manager @OfficialBigSam during his first go at management. Was player/manager then at Limerick pic.twitter.com/tEXix7CTXV
— Sponge 🧽 (@isthissponge) July 25, 2016
“I’ve been a success at every club I’ve been at, starting with Limerick FC, by the way,” Allardyce said as his record was questioned by some journalists.
Newcastle fans may argue with that statement, and “success” is very much subjective where Big Sam is concerned but most clubs he’s been at have improved under his stewardship and some, such as Bolton, have reached new heights under his watch.
Improving England from the low of their exit to Iceland at the Euros shouldn’t be that hard, but it will be fascinating to see how Allardyce goes about it and if he manages to give identity and purpose to a team that so often looks bewildered and clueless when the pressure is on.
