Appointed Everton manager in November 2017 in the wake of Ronald Koeman’s dismal tenure at Goodison, Sam Allardyce was charged with the task of staving off vague threats of a relegation battle. He did so with some room to spare, leading the club to eighth, in what – although few at the time could possibly have foretold it at the time – would turn out to be the club’s highest position in years. But he never won over Evertonians and it was to be the briefest and unhappiest of reigns.

Raised in the West Midlands, Allardyce's early years were steeped in the working-class culture that would later influence his pragmatic approach to football. Allardyce’s professional playing career started with Bolton Wanderers in 1973, where he quickly became a key figure in the team’s defence.  Over a career spanning two decades, Allardyce played for the likes of Sunderland, Millwall and Coventry City, with a brief stint in the North American Soccer League with Tampa Bay Rowdies. Although his playing career was respectable, he only played a couple of seasons in the top tier, and he retired in 1992.

Allardyce’s transition to management began shortly before his retirement as a player. His first role was as a player-coach at West Bromwich Albion, before he took on his first managerial role at Limerick in Ireland in 1991. Success at Limerick led to further opportunities in English football, most notably at Blackpool and Notts County.

Allardyce became regarded as a pioneer in the use of sports science, data analysis and technology within football, which he adopted during his time at Bolton Wanderers, where he managed from 1999 to 2007. His tenure at Bolton was marked by an ability to get the most out of his players, often overachieving with a squad built around high profile veterans and unexpectedly exotic talent, like the Nigerian playmaker, Jay-Jay Okocha, and the French World Cup winner, Youri Djorkaeff. Under his leadership, Bolton not only avoided relegation but also qualified for European competition.

Allardyce’s style of play, often described as pragmatic, was heavily criticized for being overly physical and defensive, but it was effective, and it established him as a Premier League manager. His teams were known for their physicality, defensive solidity and reliance on set-pieces. He placed great emphasis on organization and discipline, ensuring that his teams were difficult to break down. This approach, dubbed “anti-football” by critics, was rooted in a belief that football is ultimately a results-driven business.

Allardyce’s success at Bolton paved the way for a series of managerial appointments across the Premier League. He managed Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, with varying degrees of success. His ability to stabilize clubs facing relegation made him a sought-after figure for teams in crisis. Despite this, he never quite managed to secure a long-term position at a top club.

In 2016, Allardyce took on the role of England national team manager, a position he had long coveted. However, his tenure was cut short after just one game due to a scandal involving comments he made to undercover journalists, which led to his resignation. Despite this setback, Allardyce quickly returned to club management, taking on a short-term role at Crystal Palace before Everton came calling in November 2017.

At the time of his appointment, Everton were languishing near the relegation zone, and Allardyce was brought in with the primary objective of securing the club’s Premier League status. His reputation for guiding teams out of danger was exactly what Everton’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, believed was needed. Moshiri admitted at the club’s AGM in January 2018 to having been inspired to appoint Allardyce after reading his autobiography, “Big Sam”.

Allardyce quickly steadied Everton, guiding them to a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions. But what transpired on the pitch was anathema to a fanbase brought up on ‘School of Science’ principles. Fans, accustomed to more attractive and expansive football, were dismayed by what they saw as negative and uninspired tactics. Under Allardyce, Everton became known for their defensive approach, often sitting deep and relying heavily on long balls and set-pieces to create scoring opportunities.  

Discontent among fans was palpable, with many expressing their frustration both in the stadium and on social media. A squad largely clear from relegation danger by Christmas had space to introduce improvements in style and performance, while giving Allardyce an opportunity to show he was invested in Everton for the long term. But he failed to deliver.

Adding to the tensions, Allardyce’s public persona and his interactions with the media did little to endear him to Evertonians. He was often blunt in his assessments, and at times seemed dismissive of the fans’ concerns.  This disconnect was epitomised when Allardyce referred to a survey sent out by the club, which asked fans to rate his performance, as ‘disgusting.’ This comment only served to further alienate him from a fanbase that was already disillusioned with his tenure.

Despite leading the team to a respectable league finish, the atmosphere around the club remained toxic, and it became increasingly clear that a change was necessary. In May 2018, after just six months in charge, Allardyce was sacked by Everton. The club cited a desire to move in a different direction as the primary reason for his dismissal, a sentiment that was widely supported by the fanbase.

‘His tenure will be remembered, if at all, for attempting to bring on a defensive midfielder, Morgan Schneiderlin, at 0-0 against Watford, only to summon a striker when Troy Deeney scored what proved the winner; for being content with a point at Swansea; for having the second-lowest number of shots on target in the Premier League season; and a style of play that one rival manager branded “Conference football” following a game at Goodison,” surmised the Guardian in an article marking his departure entitled, ‘Wretched football, erroneous boasts: Sam Allardyce was an Everton misfit.’

For Allardyce there was a return to management with West Bromwich Albion in December 2020, but the myth of the great survivor was finally ended when the Baggies went down the following May.

In May 2023 he was appointed Leeds United manager with four games to go and Leeds in seventeenth place. Leeds picked up just one point from twelve and were relegated from the Premier League. The same day that Leeds’ relegation was confirmed, Everton beat Bournemouth to survive by the skin of their teeth; a day of rare schadenfreude for a beleaguered fanbase.