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Allardyce confirmed as new England coach

Mark MeadowsJuly 13, 2016

Sunderland's Sam Allardyce has been confirmed as the new England manager. The appointment has prompted a mixed response from fans as the Three Lions try to quickly move on from the shock Euro defeat by Iceland.

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England Fußball Premier League Sam Allardyce Trainer Sunderland
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Greenwood

Allardyce has been handed the England manager's job following Roy Hodgson's resignation after the embarrassing 2-1 defeat by Iceland in the last 16 of the European Championship.

His club Sunderland, who just avoided relegation from the Premier League last term in the latest Houdini act performed by Allardyce, confirmed last week that their boss had held talks with the English Football Association and asked for a quick resolution.

The FA also spoke to Hull City manager Steve Bruce, who reports said had left that job on Friday, but Allardyce has been finally confirmed after days of speculation.

Other managers linked to what England fans refer to as the toughest job in the country included Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Bournemouth's Eddie Howe and United States and former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann.

Allardyce, who missed out on the job in 2006 after being canvassed, is hardly a high profile name outside of the Premier League but such is the dearth of English managerial talent that he quickly became the favorite.

But foreign coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello failed to add to England's solitary honor - the 1966 World Cup - so the FA has decided to go English again despite Hodgson's ignominious end after winning every game in Euro qualification.

Many England fans have reacted with horror on social media to the idea of Allardyce being appointed given the style of physical, sometimes long-ball football many of his teams have employed.

The 61-year-old only managed for one season in European competition with Bolton Wanderers having led them to the heady heights of sixth in the Premier League in 2005.

Otherwise, he has been more used to scrapping in the bottom half of the table, not usually a pre-requisite for an England boss.

Others have pointed out that the former West Ham United manager gets the best out of limited players and that is exactly what England need after their overhyped team flopped so badly in France.

He is also much more modern in his coaching and player fitness techniques than his beefy, no-nonsense appearance might suggest.