West Brom confirm Sam Allardyce as new manager following sacking of Slaven Bilic

West Brom confirm Sam Allardyce as new manager following surprise sacking of Slaven Bilic as Baggies turn to survival expert who has NEVER been relegated from Premier League

West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the appointment of Sam Allardyce as first team manager, following the departure of Slaven Bilic.

Allardyce has signed an 18-month deal with the Baggies, and will bring in his long serving second-in-command Sammy Lee as assistant manager.

The news comes in the immediate aftermath of Bilic’s sacking, which was confirmed by the club on Wednesday following a commendable 1-1 draw against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

West Brom have confirmed Sam Allardyce has taken over as first team manager

Allardyce replaces Slaven Bilic, who was sacked in the aftermath of a draw with Man City

Allardyce replaces Slaven Bilic, who was sacked in the aftermath of a draw with Man City

The 66-year-old has been out of management since he was dismissed by Everton in 2018

The 66-year-old has been out of management since he was dismissed by Everton in 2018

The 18-month deal is understood to contain a release clause should West Brom fail to ensure top flight survival. Sportsmail understands Mark Hughes was also under consideration for the position.

Allardyce will be in place at the helm in time for Sunday’s local derby against Dean Smith’s Aston Villa. 

In Allardyce the Baggies have turned to a survival expert, with the former England manager having gained a reputation as the man clubs turn to when in need of rapidly turning around their fortunes.

As is his usual remit, Allardyce will be tasked with keeping the newly-promoted Baggies in the Premier League.

The draw at the Etihad took them to seven points from 13 games since they came up from the Championship. They are currently two points off safety. 

West Brom become Allardyce's 13th job as a football manager and his eighth in the top flight

West Brom become Allardyce’s 13th job as a football manager and his eighth in the top flight

Baggies sporting and technical director, Luke Dowling told the club’s official website: ‘In Sam we have a man who has a proven Premier League pedigree with a track record of improving every club he has managed.

‘We believe and, more importantly, Sam believes we have a group of players that have the quality needed to give the club its best chance of Premier League survival.’

Allardyce has never been relegated from the Premier League during his time as a manager, and has never left a club in the midst of a relegation dogfight.

The 66-year-old has taken charge of Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and most recently Everton in the top flight of English football. 

Allardyce pulled off arguably his greatest escape when he saved Sunderland in 2016

Allardyce pulled off arguably his greatest escape when he saved Sunderland in 2016

The veteran boss is the only man in history to have managed both Newcastle and Sunderland

The veteran boss is the only man in history to have managed both Newcastle and Sunderland

Allardyce has been out of management since he left the Toffees in 2018, after being replaced by Marco Silva despite turning around Everton’s then plummeting form and leaving the club in eighth place.

At Crystal Palace Allardyce arrived with the club in dire straits in 19th in the division, before injecting belief back into the side and grinding out the results to secure a 14th place finish upon his time of leaving Selhurst Park. 

Allardyce’s biggest escape mission arguably took place in the north East, when he carried the hopes of Wearside and managed to retain Sunderland’s status as a Premier League football club in 2016.

After becoming the first man in history to have managed both Newcastle and Sunderland, Allardyce took charge of the Black Cats at their lowest ebb and produced a miracle by avoiding the drop in the final weeks of the campaign.

From Sunderland Allardyce entered a period of controversy, after he was handed the biggest job of his career to date.

His ill-fated spell in charge of the England team lasted just 67 days, taking charge of one game

His ill-fated spell in charge of the England team lasted just 67 days, taking charge of one game

The veteran boss was made manager of the England national team on July 22, 2016, and signed a two-year contract to take charge of the Three Lions.

He won his first and only game in charge on 4 September courtesy of an Adam Lallana goal, though would soon become implicated in a scandal which would cost him his position.

Following allegations of malpractice, Allardyce left the role by mutual consent on 27 September, having managed the team for just 67 days and taken charge of one match.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk