Third oldest coach in the top leagues
Four games remain for Leeds United in the Premier League. Sam Allardyce’s job for the rest of the week: keeping the Whites above the line. With only the better goal difference compared to promoted Nottingham Forrest and with the well-known competitors Leicester City and FC Everton in the fight for a safe place, the former short-term national coach’s experience will certainly not hurt. At the age of 68, the veteran coach defends himself against a dusty image.
“Far too many people think I’m old and antiquated, which is not at all true,” said the hopeful at his first press conference as manager of Leeds United, where he officially took the helm after splitting from Javi Gracia on Wednesday had. Allardyce, also known as “Big Sam”, stated: “I may be 68 and I look old, but when it comes to football, nobody can beat me. Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta. As far as knowledge and depth of knowledge go, I’m level with them. I’m not saying I’m better, but I’m sure just as good.”
Allardyce is currently the second oldest manager in the Premier League. Only Crystal Palace returnee Roy Hodgson is older at 75. In the top 5 leagues in Europe only Manuel Pellegrini (69, Real Betis Sevilla) counts more Lenze than the two Englishmen. The oldest coach of the currently five best-placed clubs in the Premier League is Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool), listed by Allardyce, at 55, Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) is the youngest of the quintet at 41.
Gracia took over Leeds about two weeks after the dismissal of former Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch. He leaves Leeds with a points average of 0.92 from 12 games – Marsch was quoted at 1.16. Leeds spent a total of €146m on new arrivals in 2022/23 (10th in the league), compared to €115m on departures. If Allardyce holds the class with Leeds, he is said to have a million-dollar bonus.
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