Sam Allardyce rejects talk of England job '˜poisoned chalice'

New England manager Sam Allardyce faces the press at the English FAs headquarters at St Georges Park, near Burton-on-Trent. Picture: AFP/Getty

The 61-year-old dismissed suggestions the job was a poisoned chalice after he was officially unveiled by the English Football Association yesterday.

Allardyce replaces Roy Hodgson after the former manager quit following England’s disastrous Euro 2016 campaign, where they were dumped out of the competition by Iceland. England also failed to get out of the group at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and have not won a major competition since lifting the World Cup 50 years ago.

But Allardyce, who left Sunderland this week after keeping them in the Premier League last season, is not scared of the job.

He said: “Bring it on, hey lads.

“I’m hardened over many, many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job you take. You take the good with the bad, otherwise you don’t do it – don’t bother. I am here because I want to be here, because I want the challenge, I’m here because I think I can make the team better and I think I’m tough enough to take it.

“People see me as being able to turn a club around very quickly and I suppose that comes with taking West Ham up, saving Blackburn Rovers and now saving Sunderland. I consider myself to be much more than that, but that is the sort of label I’ve been left with.

“I can turn things around pretty quickly and get amongst teams to try to create a successful journey and a successful journey starts with all of us pulling together. I have managed world-class players, Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff , Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Owen.

“The good thing about really talented players is they make your life easier. They know what you want and it takes you less time. Working with the England elite players is going to be exciting for me. When it comes to winning no trophies or cups, unfortunately as an English manager I never really got the chance to go right to the top of the Premier League. But look at what I’ve achieved over the years, like not being relegated, and they are big achievements, difficult to do.”

“Allardyce, who has added his former Bolton assistant, Sammy Lee, to his coaching staff, was interviewed for the job in 2006 but lost out to Steve McClaren. Since then he has managed Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland and believes he is well equipped to take the England job.

He said: “I was good enough then. I don’t know why I did not get the job. Perhaps it was political, I don’t know. It’s obviously different and much more streamlined with this development and site (St George’s Park). It’s much more forward thinking than it was in 2006. It was 10 years since I was last interviewed and to sit here is a huge thrill for me. I think I fit the chair, I hope I do.

“I think I’ve got the experience to challenge the England team and challenge myself. Managing five Premier League teams has given me huge experience.”

Allardyce also refused to be drawn on the future of Wayne Rooney, pictured left, as England captain, saying it was too early to reveal his choice ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign. “It’s far too early to make any predictions,” he said. “I’m going to leave that until we meet all the players and get all the coaching staff together and plan  for the internationals in  September. “

Allardyce has been labelled with playing direct football during his career, a tag he rejects, but said England players must adapt to playing the styles he wants to ensure they are successful.

“I expect the players to be very flexible and adaptable. I don’t expect a player at this level to only want to play one position and one system,” he said.

“It may be the same system but tinkered with slightly to suit the opposition so we can win the game. Style of play has always been a tag which I can’t shake but at Sunderland I played with Jermain Defoe down the middle on his own at 5ft 10in. We were told Jermain could not play up front on his own, so what does he do? Play up front on his own all season, scoring 15 goals in the Premier League. No matter what people tell me it doesn’t stop me from trying to create an opportunity.”

Allardyce also said it was time players delivered  on the international stage.

He added: “We have to say it’s not potential any more, it has to be  reality now. Stand up and be counted, these young players have had a lot of experience. ”