Sam Allardyce has agreed a deal to become Crystal Palace’s new manager after Alan Pardew was sacked on Thursday.
Allardyce, 62, spent Friday afternoon thrashing out terms with Palace chairman Steve Parish before agreeing on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
He will take training tomorrow and is expected to be in the dug-out for Palace’s Boxing Day match at Watford.
The former England boss is back in football just three months after he was forced to leave his job with the FA after he was judged to have made inappropriate comments about “getting round” rules on third-party ownership of players.
The news was confirmed by the club on Friday evening.
Parish said: “We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam’s calibre and experience was available”.
#CPFC are pleased to announce Sam Allardyce as the new First Team Manager on a two-and-a-half year contract – https://t.co/fKHsWCuAey 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/nkA3V7z3qX
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 23, 2016
Former boss Pardew was axed this week after a dreadful run of form of just one win in 11 games left the club 17th in the Premier League and facing a relegation battle.
The club’s chiefs were unhappy with the situation given the significant outlay they made in the summer – in particular more than £30m spent on ex-Liverpool striker Christian Benteke.
Allardyce has previously managed Notts County, Bolton, Blackburn, Newcastle and West Ham.
Big Sam is looking to "bring some joy" to #CPFC in the New Year.
Watch his first interview as manager at https://t.co/TTogt72Aro now. pic.twitter.com/RB0QyeIV7O
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 23, 2016
He also took over at Sunderland last season when they were second bottom of the table, eventually leading them to safety before he left to take the England job following Roy Hodgson’s exit.
Palace’s owners will be hoping for a similar impact from the former defender at Selhurst Park.
Big Sam is back! pic.twitter.com/HGHJsr92ka
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) December 23, 2016
