Author: Amrit Santlani
Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce has left the club after just four games in charge, having failed to help the team avoid the drop to the Championship. After taking over as new manager on May 4, Allardyce didn’t have much time to steer the team to safety and only managed three defeats and a draw after replacing Javi Gracia at the beginning of last month.
Big Sam’s tenure at Elland Road lasted less than a month when Leeds were relegated after three years in the top flight. The 68-year-old coach thanked the club’s fans for their support, but admitted that he couldn’t commit to a long-term project, as the immediate task was promotion back to the top flight.
“It’s been an honor to manage Leeds United, a great club with an incredible fan base that deserves to be in the Premier League. At this stage of my career, I’m not sure I can commit to this challenge, which is potentially a long-term project, but I wish the club every success in the future and hope that the club returns to the Premier League where it belongs” said Allardyce.
Following the departure of the renowned coach, Leeds United said in a statement that they would announce the arrival of their next full-time manager in due course. With his 30-day spell at Leeds, Big Sam broke the record for the shortest spell in Premier League history.
Leed United were already dangerously close to relegation when the new manager took over, and he couldn’t help much as a 4-1 defeat to Spurs sealed relegation.
Allardyce was the third permanent manager in a tumultuous season for Leeds, which began under Jesse Marsch. After helping the Elland Road side stay afloat last time out, Marsch left in February and Gracia temporarily lifted the club out of the relegation zone before being sacked after a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Then came the big man who suffered only the first relegation of his career last season with West Brom and had been out of work ever since, but couldn’t lead Leeds to safety.