Sam Allardyce is one of English football’s most recognisable faces, with his last job in football coming with Leeds United after he replaced Javi Gracia in Leeds’ relegation campaign of 2023.
Sam Allardyce was handed the reins for games against Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and then Tottenham Hotspur. He watched Leeds United lose three of his four games in charge, drawing with Newcastle.
Allardyce blamed Victor Orta for relegation after he came in without much time to salvage matters, but he has had undoubted success in the Premier League before. In particular, he was a positive influence on clubs such as Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn, and West Ham for a spell.
The 70-year-old is unlikely to ever manage in the Premier League again, meaning his last act at the top level could well be overseeing the club’s relegation in a season which had Jesse Marsch and Gracia as well.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Sam Allardyce’s verdict on Leeds United fans
It doesn’t seem as though Allardyce has much love for his spell at Leeds, either. He fired a subtle dig at Leeds when Allardyce spoke at a children’s football training event.
Speaking via TAG Sports, he was asked, “who are the most passionate fans you’ve had?”
Allardyce answered: “The most passionate fans? Oof, I’d say all fans are passionate.
“But Newcastle, Everton, West Ham. Because they’ve got the biggest support.
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“So, when you’ve got the bigger support. they’ve got the biggest or loudest support.
@tagsportsnw 🎥 We asked Sam Allardyce which team has the most passionate fans. Leave your thoughts in the comments! 🤔💭 #TAGSports #Football #FootballTraining #YouthFootball #FootballDevelopment #FootballCoaching #SamAllardyce #BigSam #Newcastle #NUFC #Everton #EFC #WestHam #WHUFC #FootballTikTok #Viral #FYP #ForYouPage ♬ original sound – TAG Sports
“I mean, I managed West Ham at Wembley in the play-off final against Blackpool and there must have been 65,000 West Ham fans and only about 20,000 Blackpool fans.
“But the noise was deafening. It’s why you do it! Because, when you run out on a Saturday or whenever you run out, the hairs all stand up on your arm.
“Because the fans greet you with a great roar and that’s what stimulates you. That’s why you want to play.
“That’s why you want to play football. It’s for the fans. You feel that adrenaline. You feel that excitement.”
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Leeds need a better transfer strategy than the last Premier League stint in 2022/23
Allardyce has backed Daniel Farke, whom he is the predecessor of at Leeds. However, Allardyce has also urged Leeds to change transfer strategies this time around.
That is paramount for the club to get right this year, with a mix of experience and youth, Premier League experience and cheaper foreign imports, and robust leaders plus flair all required to be balanced.
Allardyce wasn’t able to do much in the time he was given and the fact he didn’t have a transfer window to operate in as well. But Leeds are in safer hands with Farke and under the ownership of the 49ers.
Paraag Marathe wants Leeds in the top eight, but he might have to avoid the same strategy the club used the summer prior to relegation.
There are still a plethora of components of the team needing improvement, but the 49ers might have to splash the cash on close to every area of the squad, while loans and smart free transfers could also benefit Leeds.