Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes newly appointed Leeds boss Sam Allardyce is on the same level as him.
Allardyce resumes a nearly 30-year managerial career following the sacking of Javi Gracia who only lasted 67 days in the Elland Road dugout.
He’s been given the unenviable task of maintaining Leeds’ top-flight status; with four matches remaining, they sit one place above the relegation places, level on points with 18th-place Nottingham Forest and one ahead of Everton who sit second from bottom.
Dabble sign-up offer: Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets
Not signed up to Dabble yet? Here's how to claim the Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets welcome offer:
- Sign up to Dabble through this link
- Register your account with accurate personal details
- Place your first bet of £10 or more
- Receive your £10 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted
- Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days
#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. GambleAware.org
No stranger to fire fighting, Allardyce has made a career of keeping unfancied teams up, since entering the Premier League with boyhood club Bolton Wanderers he’s coached Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Brom – it was at the latter, though, his pristine record of never being relegated from England’s first division finally broke.
In the past Allardyce has dismissed his perceived reputation, arguing that if he was given the same tools as Europe’s elite coaches then observers would see him as their equal rather than a one-dimensional coach, that personal opinion resurfaced, after being unveiled as Leeds’ third manager this season.
“There’s nobody ahead of me in football terms – not Pep, not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta,” he said. They do what they do, I do what I do. But in terms of depth of knowledge, I am up there with them. I am not saying I am better than them, but I am as good as them.”
Guardiola, chasing a historic treble with City, was presented with those comments and the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach feels Allardyce is correct to say what he did.
“He is right. I want to be honest. Look at the managers, Roy Hodgson for Crystal Palace, what they have done. They are really good, they have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly and if he feels that it is because of this. It will be tough because he has the charisma, he will put out the pressure to the players and he knows exactly what to do in this kind of situation in a relegation battle,” he told reporters.
“It looks like this type of old managers… I’m honest, so what they have done for the club [is dismissed as] ‘they are old, whatever’. Now the people who are 35, 40, 45, we invent football or we create football. No, football is already created and these guys belong to that league and helped us to do it and that’s why. So, Neil Warnock, Huddersfield was in the last [spot] and now already out of the dangerous positions. I could not experience what Harry Redknapp has done in this country.
“There are many, many English managers that have done really, really well. You don’t have to be young to be a good manager. As much experience you have, you are good.”