Sam Allardyce has had a considerably mixed start at Crystal Palace.
Having arrived on the scene at Selhurst Park in the second half of the season in an attempt to salvage their Premier League status, Big Sam is currently fulfilling his ambition and is on course to keep Palace in the top flight.
However, the Eagles’ Premier League status is far from set in stone and Allardyce will need to continue working his magic to prevent any last minute slip-ups.
It’s been an eventful managerial career for the Palace boss, with controversy surrounding him for the main part. He’s become something of an icon in the Premier League and is very much seen as a household name, but not everyone knows just how Big Sam came to be.
So, how much do you think you know about the Eagles manager? We’ve taken a look at ten facts about Allardyce that perhaps you weren’t aware of before today.
No glory
Allardyce has never won a major honour in his long managerial career so far.
English mentality, English style...
However, Allardyce doesn’t have English parents. Both his mother and father are from Scotland.
North East rivalry management
Allardyce is the first ever, and only, manager to have been in charge of both Newcastle and Sunderland.
Interesting team-bonding methods
Big Sam once took his men to Lake District and made them race each other… whilst sat on toilets. A strange, but entertaining method of team bonding.
Journeyman
Allardyce has managed a fair few clubs in his time, but has also played for nine different clubs during his playing days.
Player-manager
During his time with Limerick out in Ireland, he acted as the player-manager in the 1991/92 season.
Record decks
Prior to Allardyce beginning his apprenticeship with Bolton Wanderers aged just 15, he took up a part-time job in helping to produce record decks in a factory.
Sports science
A key aspect of football for Allardyce is research into sports science, and he’s implemented several unorthodox methods into training his teams, such as yoga.
He's not just a manager
Along with his responsibility as the manager of several clubs in the past, Allardyce has also had experience of running a whole host of different businesses.
He’s played a part previously in the running of a motor spares firm, a fast food restaurant, a social club, a pub, a piano bar, and also a restaurant.
Monthly winner
Allardyce has won six manager of the month awards since the new Premier League took its shape.