Latest news with #SamAllardyce
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Soccer Aid's most memorable moments from Jose Mourinho's dark arts on Olly Murs, Sam Allardyce wrestling a One Direction star and THAT Tommy Fury throw in
On Sunday June 15, the annual Soccer Aid for UNICEF graces our screens as celebrities and ex-footballers go head-to-head to raise money for charity. Old Trafford will host familiar faces who will be playing for England and the Soccer Aid World XI as England need to win to level the head-to-head in the 14th edition of the event. England will be managed by boxing heavyweight Tyson Fury alongside Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney and Harry Redknapp as Peter Schmeichel and Robbie Keane lead the World XI. United legends fill the ranks including Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville. Even former Juventus and Euro 2020 champion Leonardo Bonucci, one of the best Italian centre backs to grace the sport, will be featuring for the World XI. As kick-off edges closer, Mail Sport looks back at some of the best moments Soccer Aid has produced over the years. Niall Horan and Sam Allardyce wrestling During the 2016 edition of the charity match, One Direction star Niall Horan and former England and Premier League manager Sam Allardyce were engrossed in a playful touchline scrap. Posed on opposite teams, the two came face-to-face as Big Sam lifted the Irishman off the ground at the beginning of the second half. Despite the weight difference, Horan couldn't topple the ex-Baggies boss who wrestled the singer into the air, all in good jest. Name a better duo than Big Sam and @NiallOfficial 😂 #SoccerAid @ITV @WeAreSTV @itvfootball 👀 We'll wait… — Soccer Aid (@socceraid) April 5, 2019 Joel Dommett's Keeping Howler Soccer Aid has seen some shocking goalkeeping performances with the usual trend of having a professional goalkeeper in one half and a celebrity in the other. Defensive solidity is often a rarity due to this rule and Joel Dommett's blunder was yet another celebrity keeper who was left with egg on his face. After Paddy McGuinness pulled out of the 2021 match, comedian Dommett stepped up in his place to do his best for the Three Lions. A long-range dribbler from Love Island's Kem Cetinay ghosted past Dommett as the I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here star was left feeling embarrassed, completely missing the ball. Jose Mourinho's Dark Arts Arguably the most iconic moment of Soccer Aid history came in the 2014 clash when the Special One managed the World XI. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager ran onto the pitch to tackle X Factor star Olly Murs, tripping him up. Murs saw the funny side of it as he was left completely baffled by Mourinho's sneaky move, although the Portuguese managed to evade a booking for his challenge. The X Factor star offered a shocked reaction to Mourinho's challenge in an iconic moment 🎥 The Special One joins us on a special day... throwback to Jose leaving his mark on @ollyofficial at #SoccerAid! — Soccer Aid (@socceraid) May 27, 2016 Zinedine Zidane's Embarrasses Damien Lewis The nutmeg, perhaps the worst humiliation one could face when on a football pitch. How can it get worse? Being nutmegged by one of the best midfielders the game has ever seen in front of tens of thousands of onlookers. Damien Lewis suffered this fate at the mercy of former Real Madrid manager and player Zinedine Zidane, who gracefully sent the ball through the actor's legs at the 2010 Soccer Aid match. Lewis probably has nightmares about the Frenchman's trickery that keep him up at night as he effortlessly darted past the Homeland star. — Soccer Aid (@socceraid) November 2, 2023 Homeland star Damien Lewis was nutmegged by football legend Zinedine Zidane back in 2010 Ben Shephard's unwanted record Celebrities and ex-footballers alike would be eager to get into the Soccer Aid record books to be immortalised in the charity match's history. TV presenter Ben Shephard managed to etch his name into Soccer Aid lore but for the wrong reasons. In 2016, Shephard brought down his man as England led the World XI 1-0 in the 52nd minute, leading to a second yellow card and a sending off. The This Morning host became the first player to pick up a red card in Soccer Aid as Allardyce and Robbie Williams were left bemused by his rash actions. Tommy Fury should stick to boxing Whilst Tyson Fury has been invited to take part in Soccer Aid this year, his younger half-brother Tommy has not been asked to return to the field. Last year the Love Island boxer made his debut at the annual event but disappointed in his performance. It looked like Fury had never played football in his life as he picked up the ball to take a throw-in, only to roll it onto the pitch like he was at a five-a-side game. World XI coach Mauricio Pochettino was seen laughing as the cameras cut to the bench's reaction, the Argentine clinging to former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane as he giggled. World XI manager Mauricio Pochettino was seen in hysterics on the touchline after Fury's throw The Inbetweeners never change 10 years later Blake Harrison is best known for his role as Neil in the hit coming-of-age sitcom The Inbetweeners. His humour from his time on the show never left him when he appeared for England in the 2018 match at Old Trafford. As the players lined up before kick-off, Harrison was captured on screen as the camera panned with a hilarious unmoving gleeful face. Whilst his appearance was comical, his performance was deadly serious as the actor scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out to seal victory for England. Edgar Davids and Jonathan Wilkes bust-up The 2014 edition of Soccer Aid served up some sensational moments, but Edgar Davids and Jonathan Wilkes dished up the best part of the match. Known for his terrier-like playing style, Davids put in a strong challenge on Robbie Williams' friend and co-founder. Wilkes confronted the Dutchman, culminating in a brief altercation on the pitch which saw the ex-Juventus midfielder brandished with a yellow card. Despite this, the two were seen arm-in-arm in the post-match celebrations in Wilkes' X post saying: 'Don't worry we Kissed & made up after the game.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Sam Allardyce wanted to kick my door down': IAN LADYMAN tells Mark Clattenburg about extraordinary run-in with former Premier League manager on new Mail podcast
Podcast All episodes Mail Football Editor Ian Ladyman told ex-elite referee Mark Clattenburg about a particularly exceptional exchange he had with former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce on the latest episode of the Whistleblowers podcast. Ladyman revealed he had a tense phone call with 'Big' Sam Allardyce during the former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham boss's early days at Notts County in the late nineties. Allardyce won the Third Division with Notts County in 1998, which led to him being offered the chance to manage relative giants Bolton in the Championship a year later. 'Sam is friend of mine. When I first met him, I was working for a local newspaper', Ladyman said. 'He was the manager of Notts County, and it was my job to cover the club. They had taken a player on trial who had just come back to football after failing a drugs test. Whistleblowers, brought to you by the Mail and Wickes TradePro - is football's most original new podcast - lifting the lid on the parts of the game no one else talks about 'Twenty years ago, that was very rare. So, I rang Sam and told him I was going to write a story. 'Sam said I could write the story - but told me not to mention the drugs ban. I am like, Sam, that is the only reason the story is interesting. 'The fact your signing Joe Bloggs doesn't matter – we have got to mention the drugs ban. He said, you do that – and I will kick your f***ing door down. 'I had only just arrived in Nottingham and was living in a hotel – so I replied, you're not going to be able to do that Sam. 'He said: I will come to that hotel and kick every door down until I find yours.' Whistleblowers is a brand-new football podcast, brought to you by The Mail in association with Wickes TradePro. From what really goes on in the referee's room, to how clubs spin crises and who's pulling the strings behind the scenes - Whistleblowers brings the inside stories only those at the heart of the game can tell. Co-host Mark Clattenburg shared his affection for Sam Allardyce and what it was like referring his 'big character' in the dugout. Listen here Co-host Mark Clattenburg shared his affection for Sam Allardyce and what it was like referring his 'big character' in the dugout. 'I used to love Big Sam as a coach', the official said. 'I miss his character. At Bolton, he used to abuse me and the fourth official all the time and I used to ask him why and he would say – just to get the crowd going. 'I remember one time – we had a big bar bill at St George's Park. West Ham had been playing Aston Villa. It was worth a large sum of money. 'I went to Big Sam and Neil McDonald and said, my God – that bar bill was huge last night. 'They said the club would be launching an investigation and somebody would be sacked. I asked why – they told me they wanted to find out who'd had the coffee.' For more anecdotes from inside the world of football, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Nolan: How Bolton Wanderers helped to shape my managerial career
KEVIN Nolan has lifted the lid on why his successful spell at a player at Bolton Wanderers helped shape his career as a manager. The former club captain left the Reebok in 2009, a decade after he had been fast-tracked by Sam Allardyce in a side that was challenging for promotion to the Premier League. At his pomp, Nolan was one of the country's most potent attacking midfielders, overlooked on the international stage by England to the chagrin of many a Whites fan, the Liverpudlian was nevertheless one of the most effective players of his type, scoring 47 top-flight goals in his time with the club. But since concluding his playing career with a player-manager spell at Leyton Orient in 2016, his sights have been set firmly on following Big Sam's path to success in the dugout. Kevin Nolan scores against Manchester United... Again! (Image: PA) Early experiences with a chaotic Orient and Notts County in the lower leagues were character-building, if nothing else, but Nolan's real coaching credentials were built alongside David Moyes at West Ham and led to a short spell in charge of England's Under-20s. The opportunity to manage against at club level was something he was keen to seize and arrived in December last year at Northampton Town. Speaking exclusively to The Bolton News via Sky Bet, Nolan discussed what he had taken from his years under Big Sam and applied to current role. He said: 'The biggest thing I've taken from Sam Allardyce – and I still do it now – is how he handled team selection. Once I've named the team, whether that's on a Thursday or Friday, I say to the players: 'You're more than welcome to come and speak to me after the game, but not before.' 'That's important. It gives the player time to process the news, especially if they're not starting. It allows them to take it in, watch the game, understand the bigger picture, and then – if they still feel strongly – they can come in on Monday and have a proper conversation about it. That's something Sam did well. And usually, when you did go in to see him, he had this way of making you think his decision was the right one. You'd walk in questioning it and walk out seeing his logic. He made you think differently – and that always stuck with me. 'Another thing I learned from Sam is the importance of staff relationships. He trusted his staff and I believe that's vital. As a manager, you need a strong bond with your team. You've got to trust them to deliver your messages to the players and help drive the standards every day.' Nolan and Sam Allardyce celebrate play-off final victory with West Ham (Image: PA) Of the first Wanderers team who qualified for Europe in 2005, precious few have gone on to succeed in coaching or management. Gary Speed had success with Wales before he passed away, the likes of Kevin Davies, Stelios, Bruno N'Gotty, Joey O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jussi Jaaskelainen had qualified successes in their own field. But Nolan is the only one of Big Sam's most successful group who are operating at a similar level to Wanderers these days. But are there any of his former team-mates who he was surprised to see resist the coaching game, or those who might have grasped the nettle? He said: 'I must admit, I haven't worked with Nicky Hunt on the coaching side, but I know he's been managing at a lower-league level alongside Michael Clegg, who's done well down there. There's a good balance between them, and 'Cleggy' speaks very highly of him. 'I'll be honest, I didn't necessarily see Nicky going into coaching – I thought he might go more into being a DJ, because that's what he was like as a player. But it's great to see he's stepped into management and is making his own mark. Nicky Hunt is one of Kevin Nolan's old team-mates who he thinks would be suited to coaching (Image: PA) Gudni Bergsson should have gone into coaching, says Kevin Nolan (Image: PA) 'The one that really surprised me was Guðni Bergsson not going into management. He was such a strong leader, both on and off the pitch. When I was breaking into the first team at Bolton, he was one of the captains and a real presence in the dressing room. I always thought he had what it takes to be a manager, so I'm really surprised he didn't dip his toes into it.' Nolan will be demanding high standards from his Northampton players when they return this summer having finished five points clear of the relegation zone this season, with aspirations to improve this term – and admits his own shortcomings led to the toughest pre-season of his own career as a player. He said: 'It was that second season back in the Premier League. I'd enjoyed the downtime a bit too much and didn't come back in the right shape for pre-season, and that ended up affecting me throughout the whole campaign. Pre-season is vital if you want to be the best version of yourself, and I wasn't. I kept picking up silly little injuries, just niggles really, but they disrupted my rhythm and frustrated me. 'That experience has stuck with me, and it's why, as a coach now, I demand that players stay in top condition. The demands of the modern game are so high – physically and mentally – that you've got to be ready to go. A strong pre-season gives you the platform to perform, and that year taught me that preparation is everything.' Although Nolan has hit on a positive note with Northampton, he does look back on his time with Wanderers with fondness, and his welcome in the season just gone as the Cobblers boss showed in what high regard he is still held by the Bolton fans. He said: "I was at Bolton for many years – captain – and I was lucky enough to play alongside some incredible players. I've got some amazing memories from that time. Going back there in my first few weeks as Northampton manager was emotional. To get that warm reception from the fans, to be back in that environment – it brought a lot of good memories. 'What we achieved there – no one can ever take that away. A small-town club like Bolton, competing with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton down the road, Manchester City – and not just holding our own, but really mixing it with them. It was an incredible period, and we all played a part in making it happen.' It is a decade since Wanderers first qualified for Europe, an honour which was confirmed with a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth, El-Hadji Diouf's goal confirming a UEFA Cup campaign the club could never have dreamed of before. 'It was an incredible journey, truly a dream,' Nolan recalled. 'But it was a dream we actively worked towards. I remember five years before; we set that goal. We [the players] even bought a horse, with Phil Brown, Sam [Allardyce], and called it 'European Dream'. It's a nice little memory. 'The reason we were successful was because we all believed in that dream. Mental toughness was key, and Sam instilled that in us – as players and as a team. He didn't just want us to stay in the Premier League; he wanted us to improve year on year. And we did. 'I played a big role as captain in helping Sam achieve his vision, and he helped me achieve my own goals along the way.' Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Gardner, Dean Holdworth and Michael Ricketts celebrate promotion (Image: PA) Kevin Nolan made more than 300 appearances for Wanderers (Image: PA) Nolan picked up the captaincy from another Wanderers legend, Jay-Jay Okocha, at a time when the Nigerian wizard did not seem to be coping with the pressure as well as he had in his two-and-a-half years in the role. Nolan recalled: 'It was a bit strange, to be honest, because usually you'd expect something like that at the end or beginning of the season, but this came halfway through. Gary Speed was there, but it was just an incredible honour. 'I'd been at the club for six or seven years by then. So, when I got called into the office, I thought I might be in trouble, or maybe the gaffer was just going to give me a bit of a talking-to. But when he said he was going to make me captain, I was overwhelmed. It brought tears to my eyes, and I knew it was a pivotal moment in my career. 'After that, I went on to captain every club I played for, which was an incredible honour. It was great to see that I had the leadership qualities, and Sam gave me the chance to show that. I believe that's one of the reasons I had the career I did, because leadership was always one of my main strengths.' Kevin Nolan was speaking on behalf of Sky Bet.
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Premier League manager, 65, looking to achieve ‘career highlight' promotion with sixth tier side
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PHIL BROWN famously won promotion with Hull to the Premier League and kept them up for a season. But today he aims to get Kidderminster back into the National League. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Phil Brown is aiming to achieve a 'career highlight' with Kidderminster Credit: Alamy 2 Brown famously won promotion with Hull to the Premier League and kept them up for a season Credit: Getty Kiddy travel to Southport where victory will guarantee them the National North title and automatic promotion — with Brackley only behind on goal difference and Scunthorpe two points back. Only one side goes up automatically with the next six going into the play-offs. Brown, 65, took the Tigers up in 2009 and also won promotion to League One with Southend in 2015. He has also managed Derby, Preston and Barrow. And he told SunSport: 'This will be a career highlight. It really does feel more exciting than getting promoted to the Premier League. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL GRAND PLANS Premier League club's plans to double size of stadium take huge step forward 'I've won two promotions as a manager and me and my assistant Neil McDonald were also part of Sam Allardyce's backroom team at Bolton. But this does feel special. 'I might have been there, seen it and done it — and everyone seems to think if you've had success in the Premier League you should be able to have success in the lower divisions. "That's a load of rubbish. The bottom line is if your owners aren't allowing you to do things, right then you're going to have a problem. "You've got to cut your cloth accordingly and myself and Macca have learned a lot about the process of being successful. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Macca worked with Sam at Blackburn and West Ham too — and he has assisted me in the past — and having the right backroom team is key.' Kiddy incredibly pulled in 5,341 fans for Monday's league game with Hereford — beating the 5,327 they attracted for the 2022 FA Cup game against Premier League big-guns West Ham. Why Mo Salah and James Maddison will be pivotal in Liverpool Spurs clash | Experts' best bets - Weekend Wager Allardyce, who is from nearby Dudley, put on an 'Evening with Sam Allardyce' in November and attended their game against Burton the next day. Brown said: 'He came into the changing room on Saturday, gave a team talk and then watched the match. It was brilliant — you have these sorts of people who have parallels with non-league football. 'I used to work with Brian Horton, who managed Manchester City back in the day, and he gave Harriers a glowing endorsement. "He said, 'Kidderminster are one of the biggest non-league clubs. "They've been in the EFL before under Jan Molby and if you can get them going there's no reason why you cannot take them back into the Football League.' Brown famously serenaded Hull fans with The Beach Boys' classic Sloop John B after the club stayed up in the Premier League on the final day of the season in 2010. The Geordie says he still loves to sing and said: 'I've got my daughter's christening in May and can promise you I'll be up on the microphone most of the night.' Although he would not share his playlist, Brown highly recommends giving a listen to Front Door Famous by country singer Luke Combs. He said: 'My motivation in life is always to make my family proud. "There's a great song called Front Door Famous. "He makes the point, 'You walk through your front door and it doesn't matter who the f***ing hell you are, your kids run up to you and say, 'daddy' and that is what life should be all about.'
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Former Premier League manager, 65, looking to achieve ‘career highlight' promotion with sixth tier side
But today he aims to get Kidderminster back into the National League. 2 Phil Brown is aiming to achieve a 'career highlight' with Kidderminster Credit: Alamy 2 Brown famously won promotion with Hull to the Premier League and kept them up for a season Credit: Getty Kiddy travel to Southport where victory will guarantee them the National North title and automatic promotion — with Brackley only behind on goal difference and Scunthorpe two points back. Only one side goes up automatically with the next six going into the play-offs. Brown, 65, took the Tigers up in 2009 and also won promotion to League One with Southend in 2015. He has also managed Derby, Preston and Barrow. And he told SunSport: 'This will be a career highlight. It really does feel more exciting than getting promoted to the Premier League. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'I've won two promotions as a manager and me and my assistant Neil McDonald were also part of Sam Allardyce's backroom team at Bolton. But this does feel special. 'I might have been there, seen it and done it — and everyone seems to think if you've had success in the Premier League you should be able to have success in the lower divisions. "That's a load of rubbish. The bottom line is if your owners aren't allowing you to do things, right then you're going to have a problem. "You've got to cut your cloth accordingly and myself and Macca have learned a lot about the process of being successful. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Macca worked with Sam at Blackburn and Kiddy incredibly pulled in 5,341 fans for Monday's league game with Hereford — beating the 5,327 they attracted for the 2022 FA Cup game against Premier League big-guns West Ham. Why Mo Salah and James Maddison will be pivotal in Liverpool Spurs clash | Experts' best bets - Weekend Wager Allardyce, who is from nearby Dudley, put on an 'Evening with Sam Allardyce' in November and attended their game against Burton the next day. Brown said: 'He came into the changing room on Saturday, gave a team talk and then watched the match. It was brilliant — you have these sorts of people who have parallels with non-league football. 'I used to work with Brian Horton, who managed Manchester City back in the day, and he gave Harriers a glowing endorsement. "He said, 'Kidderminster are one of the biggest non-league clubs. "They've been in the EFL before under Jan Molby and if you can get them going there's no reason why you cannot take them back into the Football League.' Brown famously serenaded Hull fans with The Beach Boys' classic Sloop John B after the club stayed up in the Premier League on the final day of the season in 2010. The Geordie says he still loves to sing and said: 'I've got my daughter's christening in May and can promise you I'll be up on the microphone most of the night.' Although he would not share his playlist, Brown highly recommends giving a listen to Front Door Famous by country singer Luke Combs. He said: 'My motivation in life is always to make my family proud. "There's a great song called Front Door Famous. "He makes the point, 'You walk through your front door and it doesn't matter who the f***ing hell you are, your kids run up to you and say, 'daddy' and that is what life should be all about.'
