OFFICIAL - Allardyce named England Manager

It was very impressive, came across very at home and assured

I agree. I've got more confidence in Sam than I've had in any England manager since El Tel. Hopefully this is the start of something special.

He certainly handles himself well. Some would say he can talk the talk, but we at Bolton, Sunderland and West Ham know he can do the walk as well.
Here's hoping he can bring a smile to all England fans?

Sorry but I reckon I could do as well or better than Big Sam.

Bolton Wanderers legend Sam Allardyce says 'bring it on' as he starts new England job

Sam Allardyce was unveiled to the world as the new England manager today.

The Bolton legend held his first press conference at the England team's base at St George's Park in Burton-upon-Trent.

And his first act was to face the challenge of being in the most criticised job in English football in typically forthright style by declaring: "Bring it on."

The 61-year-old former Wanderers player and manager dismissed suggestions the job was a poisoned chalice after he was officially unveiled by the FA.

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 exiting 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.

"They don't hold the same category as winning the FA Cup, Capital One Cup or winning the league but it's very important today in the Premier League to secure a football club's financial status which is a difficult thing."

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 he 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 Wayne Rooney's future 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. It's my first day in, I'm getting my feet under the table and meeting everyone." 

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