Everton have chosen former England boss, Sam Allardyce, as the club’s new manager, following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman last month.
The 63-year-old was twice linked with the post during the lengthy period it has taken the struggling side to appoint its next leader, with David Unsworth stepping down after being in charge on a caretaker basis.
The news ends weeks of media leaks, negotiations, delays, wild speculation and a betting frenzy.
A controversial element of Allardyce’s arrival will be his decision to bring in ex-Liverpool player and coach, Sammy Lee, as part of his backroom team.
Former Leicester City manager, Craig Shakespeare, is also said to be among the coaching staff coming in with Allardyce.
Everton’s hierarchy is understood to have considered a varied list of names, among them Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid and Watford’s Marco Silva, before turning to the man known as ‘Big Sam’ to lead them away from relegation trouble.
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Allardyce was previously sacked as England manager in September 2016 when newspaper allegations led to the end of his time as the Three Lions’ coach. He re-emerged to help Crystal Palace survive the drop from the Premier League in the second half of last season, but then decided to walk away from Selhurst Park.
A former player with Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers, Allardyce’s best spell in management came with the Trotters, who he helped qualify for European football during a successful reign spanning from 1999 until 2007.
Jobs in the hot-seat at Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland followed, then he took over with the national team for just one game – a 1-0 win away to Slovakia – before his abrupt departure.
Everton were 16th in the Premier League this morning and just two points above safety on the back of a dismal start to the season. After spending £140 million in the summer transfer window, Dutchman Koeman was dismissed on October 23rd following a poor run of results.
Under-23 team manager Unsworth had taken temporary charge, but recent heavy defeats ended any lingering hopes that the former Blues’ defender would get the role on a full-time basis.
Allardyce was agreeing terms before watching Everton’s emphatic and confidence-boosting 4-0 victory against West Ham this evening, with Wayne Rooney’s extraordinary hat-trick seeing off the side now managed by ex-Toffees boss, David Moyes.
The first game of the Allardyce era is set to be against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, with the Blues now three points better off and up to 13th place.
Additional reporting by Evan Fyfe
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