Live

Repeat: OTB Breakfast

12:00 AM-02:00 AM

Repeat: OTB Breakfast
Advertisement
Soccer

Sam Allardyce resigns and appears to retire from football management

Sam Allardyce has resigned as Crystal Palace boss and retired from football management. It caps a...



Sam Allardyce resigns and appe...
Soccer

Sam Allardyce resigns and appears to retire from football management

Sam Allardyce has resigned as Crystal Palace boss and retired from football management.

It caps a remarkable campaign for the man who was sacked by England in September following a newspaper sting.

He was only in charge of the national team for one match, and 67 days.

Palace appointed him as manager in December and he subsequently saved them from Premier League relegation.

But in a statement, the 62 year old has confirmed that he will step down from the role and will not be seeking a new managerial in future.

"I will always be grateful to Crystal Palace and Steve Parish for giving me the opportunity to go out with my head held high having helped keep the club in the Premier League," he said.

"More than that, they gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England. I felt I needed another shot at being a Premier League manager and showing that I still had the ability to achieve something significant. As I said last weekend, Palace gave me the chance of rehabilitation.

"That's why it's hard walking away now. I believe the club are heading in the right direction with a hugely supportive board of directors, a great squad of players and some of the most passionate fans I've ever met. It's been a privilege to have worked for them for the past five months.

"But there comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take - and that's been the simple part for me.

"I want to be able to savour life while I'm still relatively young and when I'm still relatively healthy, even if I'm beginning to feel all my 62 years.

"While I've got the energy, I want to travel and also spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager. I owe that to my wife and family.

"This is the right time for me, I know that in my heart. I have no ambitions to take another job, I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League."

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer