|
Sam Allardyce is interested in discussing the prospect of a return to international management as United States coach, sources close to the former England boss have told ESPN FC. Allardyce, who will be 63 on Oct. 19, lost the England job after just 67 days in charge in September 2016 following an undercover newspaper sting, but he returned to the game last December to help save Crystal Palace from relegation from the Premier League. The former Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland manager has been out of work since leaving Palace at the end of last season, and sources said he is prepared to manage again should the right opportunity emerge. But while Allardyce has distanced himself from the chance to manage Scotland following the departure of Gordon Strachan last week, sources said he regards the U.S. job as a challenge that would enable him to impose a long-term strategy and secure a legacy in a nation regarded as a growing force. The U.S.'s surprise failure to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia has led to the departure of coach Bruce Arena, who was unable to steer the nation to the finals after replacing Jurgen Klinsmann last November. However, sources said Allardyce feels that the U.S. can be restored to its previous position of dominance alongside Mexico in the CONCACAF zone, and regards the potential opportunity as a sporting one rather than financial. Having spent time in the United States during his playing career with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the old North American Soccer League, Allardyce has cited his year in Florida as being a major influence on his managerial career after being impressed by the country's approach to sport, both physically and psychologically. Mike Forde, the New York-based management consultant who worked as Allardyce's performance director at Bolton before spending six years as director of football operations at Chelsea, says that Allardyce could bring crucial experience and vision to the U.S. job. "Sam is a modern manager with a great ability to combine new technology and ideas with the basics of how to win games," Forde told ESPN FC. "His record speaks for itself. Everywhere he goes, he gets results. "Sam is one of the best coaches to build a clear team identity and style. At national team level, this is key with limited time together as a squad. "The plan and strategy has to be very clear, but Sam has a great balance between the traditional approach of how to win games and a curiosity to try new ideas and technology." Meanwhile, France Football reported on Tuesday that former France and Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc is open to replacing Arena as U.S. coach. U.S. youth technical director and under-20 manager Tab Ramos is widely expected to be put in charge on an interim basis for November, when the nation will play a friendly against Portugal, and he has expressed an interest in taking the job permanently.
|
