Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has backed the Football Association’s decision to hand Sam Allardyce the England job.
Allardyce is set to leave Sunderland to succeed Roy Hodgson after a three-man FA panel of chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director, Dan Ashworth and vice-chairman, David Gill, concluded its interview process.
Mourinho has locked horns with Allardyce in the past and accused him of “19th-century football tactics” two-and-a-half years ago after Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by West Ham.
But the Portuguese insists he has a good relationship with the 61-year-old now and believes he is the right man to lead the Three Lions after their woeful Euro 2016 campaign.
“I think he’s the right person for that, yes,” said Mourinho, when asked what he made of Allardyce’s imminent appointment.
“I think he is a good choice but I think he needs support and I think you can do better in respect to that because my experience in your country shows that me you, (the) football world, could do a bit better.
“I think Sam never had the big chance at the highest level – lots of experiences in the Premier League but never that big one.
“And now he has the big one, so I think he is more than ready. I think he is a good motivator, I think he can create a good team spirit with his player and I wish him the best.
“From my side, not just as a friend but my side as Man United manager, the only thing I can promise is that I am going to try to support him the best way, prepare the players for him, try to have the English players always available in a good condition to help him.
“I hope you can do the same because it’s your time. In Portugal we were waiting and waiting and finally we got it. I think it is time for you because ’66 (when England won their one and only major international trophy) was a long time ago, so good luck Big Sam.”
