Sam Allardyce has managed Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Sunderland and Crystal Palace at club level.Sam Allardyce has been in management for a long time, 23 years to be precise, spending the majority of that time managing in the Premier League. Whilst Big Sam has never won a trophy or finished in the top four as a manager, his longevity in the top flight is testament to his ability as a boss, and he has managed some wonderful players over the years.
The 62-year-old former England manager may have a reputation for deploying a direct style of play, but you wouldn't know it looking at the players in this XI. Packed full of grace, flair and skill, the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Nicolas Anelka were among the most technically gifted players to have played in the Premier League.
Naturally, there are a number of former Bolton Wanderers players that feature in our XI. The club that Big Sam managed with much success for eight years, former Trotters make up roughly half the team. The rest include players from Newcastle United, West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Sunderland. Here is our combined Allardyce XI:
Jussi Jaaskelainen
West Ham's Jussi Jaaskelainen prepares to come on after Adrian was sent off as manager Sam Allardyce (R) looks on
Jussi Jaaskelainen alongside Sam Allardyce at West Ham United
Somewhat underrated as a goalkeeper, during his best years at Bolton Wanderers, Jussi Jasskelainen was definitely among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. He spent 11 seasons in the Premier League with the club, before Allardyce took him to West Ham following Bolton's relegation to the Championship.
Habib Beye
A surprise inclusion to some people perhaps, given the way Habib Beye's career tailed off following injury at Newcastle and disappointing spells with Aston Villa and Doncaster Rovers, but under Allardyce at St James' Park he was superb. Beye arrived from Marseille for just £2 million and won Newcastle's Player of the Year award for 2008.
Winston Reid
Sam Allardyce likes to start at the back with club's he manages, and he has a record of signing solid, dependable, safety-first type centre-backs. One man who never let him down at West Ham United was Winston Reid. The New Zealand international and captain is now in his seventh season with the Hammers, and was named Hammer of the Year in 2012-13.
Mamadou Sakho
Crystal Palace's Mamadou Sakho warms up before the match
Mamadou Sakho has been an important player for Big Sam at Crystal Palace
Picking Mamadou Sakho over the likes of Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelson, who offered solid service to Sam Allardyce for far longer may seem unfair, but Sakho has been a colossus for Crystal Palace since signing on-loan from Liverpool. The Frenchman's performances at the back were key to Palace picking up invaluable points and surviving comfortably in the Premier League.
Ricardo Gardner
At left-back it has to be former Jamaican international Ricardo Gardner. Capped 112 times by his country, Gardner spent a whopping 14 years at Bolton, the second longest spell for a foreign player in Premier League history (second to Jussi Jaaskelainen). Strong and athletic, he was a real outlet on the left flank for Allardyce.
Youri Djorkaeff
Sam Allardyce attracted some real top class players to Bolton Wanderers, and the signing of Youri Djorkaeff was a masterstroke. The World Cup winner spent three seasons with the club, wow'ing supporters with his ability on the left wing. Djorkaeff won 82 caps during an excellent era for the French national team, a mark of his ability.
Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay Jay Okocha picks up his award from Sam Allardyce
Jay Jay Okocha picks up his award from Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers
The stand-out player in this XI, Jay-Jay Okocha was one of the most gifted footballers to ever grace the Premier League. Bolton fans may never again see a player of his class pull on their shirt. Four years he spent with the club, some of his finest too when he should arguably have been at a club competing in Europe. Okocha left Bolton for Qatar in 2006, before retiring with Hull City two years later.
Fernando Hierro
His time at Bolton Wanderers and with Sam Allardyce was brief, just a single season, but that does not diminish his ability and performances during that period. The Real Madrid legend and centre-back turned central midfielder was a top class player, capped 89 times by Spain and the winner of five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies at the Bernabeu.
Wilfried Zaha
Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha
Sam Allardyce is trying to keep Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace
Like Mamadou Sakho, Sam Allardyce's time working alongside Wilfried Zaha has been brief, but there's a good reason Big Sam is so determined to give the Ivorian international the contract he is after to keep his at Selhurst Park. A game changer for Palace, Zaha is fast, direct and tricky, and looks like a player now capable of making a move to a club like Manchester United, a step up that was all to steep for him a few years ago.
Nicolas Anelka
There are a number of good forwards to have played under Sam Allardyce, but Nicolas Anelka is the standout. A naturally gifted footballer who turned out for the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea, Anelka's attitude has drawn criticism at times, but Allardyce described him as a quiet figure, and claimed he never had any problem with the Frenchman. Anelka scored 21 goals in 53 Premier League games for Bolton.
Jermain Defoe
The likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Roque Santa Cruz and even Christian Benteke could stake a claim to partner Nicolas Anelka in this XI, but it's Jermain Defoe who gets the nod. The 34-year-old poacher was superb under Allardyce, scoring 15 league goals and 18 in all competitions to fire Sunderland to safety. The ex-England international scored another 15 this season under David Moyes, but it wasn't enough to keep the Black Cats in the top flight this time round.
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