Sam Allardyce, manager of Leeds United, applauds fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leeds United at Etihad Stadium on ...
Max Wilkins
Fri 20 February 2026 7:10, UK
Leeds United supporters are already less than the biggest fans of Sam Allardyce.
The 71-year-old moved to Elland Road in 2023 with the remit of keeping the Whites in the Premier League as a replacement for Javi Gracia.
He was afforded just four matches to turn the tide, but found the LS11 outfit sitting 17th in the table when he was appointed.
Allardyce didn’t pick up a single victory in Yorkshire, losing three of his games against Manchester City, West Ham and Tottenham.
That saw Leeds relegated to the Championship and created a poor view of the manager among supporters, something which he hasn’t helped three years later.
Credit: Breaking Media
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Sam Allardyce fails to name Leeds United as a ‘big club’
Things didn’t go well for the Englishman at Elland Road as he took the record for the shortest managerial tenure for a Premier League manager.
His 30 days in charge were hardly anything to write home about, especially when compared to the days of Marcelo Bielsa.
It appears that the ex-England boss doesn’t look back fondly on his spell in charge of the Whites after his recent comments.
Allardyce has spoken to Sky Sports about Tottenham’s appointment of Igor Tudor and the sacking of Thomas Frank last week.
The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.
Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.
However, results and… pic.twitter.com/mo82TaAXts
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 11, 2026
View Tweet
The ex-Leeds boss suggested that it is difficult to manage a “big club” like Spurs, while naming the biggest sides he has managed.
He said: “Thomas experienced what it’s like to manage a big club for the first time.
“*It’s different. I’ve done it at Everton, Newcastle, West Ham. There’s a different type of mentality and pressure.*“
Somehow, he missed his time in LS11 off this list, although he may have forgotten about it, just like many fans have done.
Are Leeds really a so-called ‘big club’?
There is no true definition of what makes a club bigger than another, but history certainly plays a key role.
The Whites have a fine past and have won things dating all the way back to the 1920s, and have built a fanbase as good as almost anyone else.
They’re no Manchester United or Liverpool in terms of success, but in their own right have picked up major honours to be proud of.
Year(s) Trophy Times won
1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92 First Division 3
1923–24, 1963–64, 1989–90, 2019–20, 2024–25 Second Division/ Championship 5
1971–72 FA Cup 1
1967–68 League Cup 1
1969, 1992 Charity Shield 2
1967–68, 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 2
Leeds United major honours
Allardyce should know that and have thought before he spoke to name the “big clubs” he has managed, and added Leeds to that list.
Supporters in LS11 will be annoyed by his comments and are likely to be joined by the likes of Sunderland, Bolton and Blackburn after being ignored.
For even more Leeds United news, analysis and opinions, head over to Football Insider.