Sam Allardyce
When Bobby Gould needed a solid dependable centre-half in 1983 the former Bolton, Sunderland and Millwall centre-half fitted the bill perfectly. He lacked pace but formed an impressive partnership for one season with Trevor Peake and helped play a big part in the relegation battle. He was centre-half on the day the mighty Liverpool were humbled 4-0. Gould released him at the end of the season and he went on to play for various Northern clubs before becoming a manager.
He achieved mixed results at Blackpool and Notts County, leading the latter to the Division 3 title in 1998 before re-joining Bolton as manager, leading them into the Premiership in 2001 and a UEFA Cup spot. His managerial career includes stints at Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Sunderland, eventually earning him a chance as England manager in 2016 following Roy Hodgson's resignation. He won his first and only game in charge on 4 September, as England beat Slovakia on the opening day of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Later in September, Allardyce and his son, Craig, were implicated in a BBC Panorama documentary for taking bribes, allegations which they denied. In September 2016, undercover Daily Telegraph reporters posing as businessmen recorded him offering to help them to get around FA third party ownership rules and provisionally agreeing a £400,000 contract. Following the Daily Telegraph investigation, Allardyce resigned as England manager in a mutual agreement with the Football Association on 27 September, having managed the team for just 67 days and one match. Further managerial spells followed at Crystal Palace, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and finally Leeds United.
Playing honours:
Football League Second Division winner 1977–78 with Bolton Wanderers
PFA Team of the Year 1986–87 Fourth Division with Preston North End
Managerial honours:
League of Ireland First Division winner 1991–92 with Limerick
Football League Third Division winner 1997–98 with Notts County
