© EuroFootball.com
In the "Premier League" in England, the club occupying the 5th place has lost its long-standing head coach Sam Allardyce, who stepped down by mutual agreement from the strategic position and ended his eight-year coaching career with the "Trotters" team.
It was thought that the 52-year-old coach would take over the reins of "Man City", and after the 2-2 draw on Saturday with the London-based "Chelsea" club, he did not participate in the press conference that followed.
"This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my entire career, but I think a new era has come for the 'Bolton' team, which should be led by a different coach," motivated S. Allardyce his withdrawal.
"His decision is for personal reasons, so we respect it greatly," added club president Phil Gartside.
S. Allardyce spent a total of 18 years in the "Bolton" team as a player and as a coach.
After the unsuccessful summer World Cup in Germany and the resignation of Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson as head coach of the England national team, S. Allardyce was among the candidates for this position, but it was former "Middlesbrough" strategist and S.G. Eriksson's assistant Steve McClaren who got the job.
S. Allardyce had previously promised to stay at the "Bolton" club, but he left his position just two rounds before the end of the English championship. This season, he managed to lift the "Trotters" to the 5th place in the standings, and now the team is aiming to secure a spot in the UEFA Cup.
"Both sides agreed that I would resign now, not at the end of the season," S. Allardyce revealed on the official "Bolton" website. - "For the person who will take my place, it is a great opportunity to prepare for the final matches of the championship and the next season."
"After leading the team to a position that guarantees a place in a European tournament for the second time in three years, I believe it is the right time to resign," added the coach. - "The foundation for the next season is very good. Now I will focus on my personal life and remain calm and satisfied with what I have created in this club. I wish only success to the owners, president, coaching staff, players, and team fans in the future."
