SAM ALLARDYCE has never shirked a confrontation in his career - in which time he has locked horns with some of the biggest names in the game.
Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger have all been in the firing line for Big Sam.
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Sam Allardyce has never been shy about making his point - even if it means upsetting some of his rival managersCredit: Getty Images
But now the England job is his, will he have the last laugh after years claiming he was good enough to be a top level boss.
SunSport takes you through some of his best quotes - many of which have been aimed at his rivals or fans who criticise his style of play.
On Mourinho
The then Chelsea boss was so fed up his team had been held to a home draw by West Ham, he hit out at his opposite number in the post match press-conference.
Mourinho said: "This is not the best league in the world, this is football from the 19th Century.
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Jose Mourinho claimed Sam Allardyce played 19th century footballCredit: Reuters
"The only [other] thing I could bring was a Black and Decker [tool] to destroy the wall."
Allardyce hit back: "He can’t take it, can he? He can’t take it because we’ve out-tactic-ed him, out-witted him. He just can’t cope.
“He can tell me all he wants. I don’t give a s***e, to be honest.
"I love to see Chelsea players moaning at the referee, trying to intimidate the officials, and Jose jumping up and down in his technical area. It’s great to see."
Aiming high at Blackburn
“I’m not suited to Bolton or Blackburn, I would be more suited to Inter Milan or Real Madrid.
“It wouldn’t be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the double or the league every time.
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Allardyce took over at Blackburn but always felt he was talented enough to work at a higher levelCredit: Getty Images
"It’s not where I’m suited to, it’s just where I’ve been for most of the time.
“It’s not a problem to take me into the higher reaches of the Champions League or Premier League and would make my job a lot easier in winning it.”
On Benitez
“Of course he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it was nowt to do with him.
"I don’t blame Benítez for claiming credit but as managers we know the truth.
"It’s like when you make a substitution in desperation and it comes off. You get all the credit for your tactical brilliance when it’s often just luck.”
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According to Big Sam, Rafael Benitez was lucky to have led Liverpool to the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty Images
On being overlooked for the big jobs
“I won’t ever be going to a top-four club because I’m not called Allardici, just Allardyce.
“That was tongue in cheek. I understand what I can do, I understand my ability as a manager and I just do my job to the best of my ability wherever I work.”
Big Sam v Roberto Martinez
“I think that Roberto, like every other manager, has his own style.
“I’m a little bit more flexible than Roberto – he is a total believer in one style.
“Where I have come from, which is part-time at Limerick where we met up on a Thursday and 50 per cent of your players turned up on Sunday from Dublin you put them out on the field to win.
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Allardyce was convinced he had a better approach to tactics than Roberto MartinezCredit: Getty Images
“Flexibility teaches you that you have a philosophy in the way you want to play but if that way of playing doesn’t suit the players you have you cannot keep that philosophy.
“For me it has always been about adapting and suiting the players the best way possible to win football matches.”
Comparing himself to Wenger
“I don’t think there is any coach more sophisticated than me any more, that’s not trying to criticise any other coaches.
“But there is only Arsene Wenger who has done it longer than me. I’m just as good as everybody at this stage.”
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For Allardyce, Andy Carroll is a great striker who should be embracedCredit: PA:Press Association
Only one Andy Carroll
“He does go where angels fear to tread.
“That’s why he’s such a good player in my view - unique, sadly, in this country today.
"We should have more Andy Carrolls in and around the Premier League because, in full flow, we all know how exciting they can be.”
