Written 6 months ago by Will O'Callaghan

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Sam Allardyce has left Crystal Palace despite leading them to Premier League survival and says he has “no ambitions” to take another job in football management.

Allardyce took charge at Selhurst Park just before Christmas on a two-and-a-half-year deal following the sacking of Alan Pardew, with the relegation-threatened club placed 17th in the table.

It marked Big Sam’s return to football having lost his England job in September after just 67 days and one game in charge.

Although the former Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland manager got off to a slow start with the Eagles, he eventually managed to steer them to safety thanks largely to a fine run of form in April which included victories over champions Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

They lost four of the last five games but a thumping 4-0 victory over Hull on the penultimate weekend of the season sealed their top-flight status.

Palace finished in 14th position with 41 points – seven clear of third-bottom Hull.

But now he’s called time on what looks to be his final job in the game. And if it is, he’ll retire with a proud record of never being relegated from the Premier League.

He said in a statement: “In some ways, this has been a very difficult decision to make but in others it has been a simple one.

“I will always be grateful to Crystal Palace and Steve Parish for giving me the opportunity to go out with my head held high having helped keep the club in the Premier League.

“More than that, they gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England. I felt I needed another shot at being a Premier League manager and showing that I still had the ability to achieve something significant. As I said last weekend, Palace gave me the chance of rehabilitation.

“That’s why it’s hard walking away now. I believe the club are heading in the right direction with a hugely supportive board of directors, a great squad of players and some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever met. It’s been a privilege to have worked for them for the past five months.

“But there comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take – and that’s been the simple part for me.

“I want to be able to savour life while I’m still relatively young and when I’m still relatively healthy, even if I’m beginning to feel all my 62 years.

“While I’ve got the energy, I want to travel and also spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager. I owe that to my wife and family.

“This is the right time for me, I know that in my heart. I have no ambitions to take another job, I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League.

“Steve Parish has been superb during our conversations today. I know it came as a shock to him that I would walk away but our discussions have been incredibly civilised with no recriminations and no fall-out.

“This is not about transfer targets, club finances or anything along those lines. This is me taking the decision I believe is right for my family and myself.

“I would like to thank everybody for their messages of support since the news broke. I’ve no doubt I will miss management but I certainly have no regrets at this decision.”

Image – Dave Thompson/Getty Images Europe

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