Past England managers that avoided sacking for controversial incidents after Allardyce turmoil
Published:
Lee Gormley | September 27, 2016
Allardyce to be sacked after latest England controversy?
Despite being just three months into his “dream job” as England boss, Sam Allardyce has landed himself in trouble with the FA, as they investigate allegations that he recently used his role to negotiate a £400k deal and hand out advice on how to get around rules on player transfers.
‘Big Sam’ has reportedly been caught on camera advising men supposedly from a Far East firm on how to avoid third-party ownership rules, while also taking a dig at former Three Lions coach Roy Hodgson and previous assistant Gary Neville.
The FA will now meet to decide the future of the 61-year-old and he is 7/4 to not be in charge of England on December 31st this year, following the revealing of such hurtful footage.
Allardyce has had just a single game in charge of his country so far, as they edged out Slovakia 1-0 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, while he is set to name his squad on Sunday for a clash against Malta.
In light of the latest turmoil to hit the national side, Coral look back at four past England managers that avoided immediate sacking for controversial incidents…
Eriksson reveals all to Sheikh, 2006
It seems controversy is a given when it comes to England managers, with Sven-Goran Eriksson being another who was involved in some non-footballing matters which rocked the national side during his reign between 2001-2006.
The Sweden-born coach was the centre of a similar situation to Allardyce, having been hoaxed into revealing plenty of details to an undercover reporter on the eve of the 2006 World Cup. He admitted he would leave the job if England had won the tournament and was interested in joining Aston Villa during the time.
Spilling all to the reporter who was dressed as a Sheikh, Eriksson also gave information regarding David Beckham wanting to leave Real Madrid, Michael Owen only joining Newcastle United for financial reasons and saying Wayne Rooney was from a “poor family”.
The former Three Lions coach left his role following the World Cup exit but the FA claimed it this was nothing to do with the incident and that it had been planned.
Venables’ distracting legal battles, 1996
When Terry Venables took over as England boss in January 1994, he was already involved in an ongoing legal battle with former club Tottenham, after allegations of various misdealings connected to his businesses as well as a supposed ‘bung’ paid to former Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough over a player transfer.
He continued as manager until Euro 1996 but, after the Three Lions were eliminated in the semi-finals by Germany, he stepped down because of a number of further court cases that were coming up, escaping any punishment from the FA at that time.
Eriksson’s playing away off-the-field, 2006
It’s no surprise that a former Three Lions coach features twice on our list, with the amount of off-the-field issues surrounding those that have taken up the hot seat.
Eriksson, having been involved in the aforementioned Sheikh incident, also hit the headlines for his high-profile affairs with compatriot and TV personality Ulrika Jonsson and FA employee Faria Alam.
The previous Manchester City and Leicester City tactician managed to hang onto his England job for five years despite all of the exposed details of his life off the touchline, with his contract running out rather than facing the sack.
Capello rates England players in ‘Index’, 2010
Stern Italian manager Fabio Capello came under fire during his four-year stay as England boss (2008-2012) after his ‘Index’ of player ratings for performances at the 2010 World Cup was discovered and revealed online.
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss was slammed by the media for his ratings after publication, but faced no immediate action from the FA for his controversial actions. Capello notably gave Jermain Defoe the highest ranking, while goalkeeper Robert Green received the lowest rating for displays in Germany.
Hodgson tells all to tube passengers, 2012
Before Allardyce was appointed as Three Lions boss, it was Hodgson that was in the England hot seat during a reign which proved to provide little success from 2012-2016.
The now 69-year-old former Liverpool manager endured his controversial moment as Three Lions boss when bizarrely revealing his tactics and the situation surrounding his players to random passengers on the tube.
Hodgson admitted to those alongside him that defender Ferdinand was at the end of his international career, before posing for pictures with the passengers in London ahead of attending a Champions League clash between Arsenal and Olympiakos.
If you fancy Allardyce to be sacked then take up the 7/4 price, while odds of 2/5 can be had on him still being in charge on December 31st of this year.
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