June 02, (THEWILL) – Sam Allardyce’s tenure as Leeds United Manager has come to an end, as his departure by mutual consent was confirmed following the club’s relegation from the English Premier League.
THEWILL recalls that Allardyce, the former England boss, was brought in to salvage Leeds from the drop with just four matches remaining, but the team ultimately finished 19th when the season concluded on Sunday. The disappointing outcome aside, Allardyce expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: “It has been an honour to manage Leeds United, a great club with an incredible fan base, who deserve to be in the Premier League.”
During Allardyce’s brief stint, Leeds only managed to secure one point from the four games he was in charge, which came in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United. With merely an outside chance of survival on the final day, Leeds suffered a 4-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur, effectively sealing their demotion.
That loss concluded the club’s three-year spell in the top flight, as they joined Leicester City and Southampton in dropping down a tier where they will play Championship football next season. Reflecting on his time with the club, Allardyce admitted uncertainty about taking on the long-term project but wished Leeds success in their future endeavours.
Leeds CEO, Angus Kinnear, expressed his gratitude towards Allardyce for his efforts, acknowledging, “We thank Sam for being brave enough to step in and do all he could to save us.” However, the team’s defensive struggles were evident throughout. Leeds conceded a total of 11 goals in the four games under Allardyce. Still, Kinnear praised Allardyce, Karl Robinson, and Robbie Keane for their relentless dedication in trying to lift the mood at Thorp Arch and Elland Road.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
