José Mourinho: Big Sam is ready for the ‘big one’

Manchester United manager José Mourinho believes Sam Allardyce is the best man for the England job and more than ready to take the "big one".

A humiliating early exit to Iceland at Euro 2016 prompted Roy Hodgson’s resignation and threw the Football Association into its latest tailspin.

Allardyce is now poised to replace Hodgson after a three-man FA panel containing chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director Dan Ashworth and vice-chairman David Gill concluded its interview process.

Two-and-a-half years ago Mourinho criticised Allardyce’s West Ham side for playing “19th-century football” when frustrating Chelsea, but the United boss believes the FA has made a wise choice.

“Well, it is your country and I think you are a complicated country for the person that gets the job,” Mourinho said in Shanghai.

“I think he’s the right person for that, yes. I think he is a good choice but I think he needs support and I think you can do better in respect to that because my experience in your country shows that me you, (the) football world, could do a bit better.

“I think Sam never had the big chance at the highest level — lots of experiences in the Premier League but never that big one.

“And now he has the big one, so I think he is more than ready. I think he is a good motivator, I think he can create a good team spirit with his player and I wish him the best.

“From my side, not just as a friend but my side as Man United manager, the only thing I can promise is that I am going to try to support him the best way, prepare the players for him, try to have the English players always available in a good condition to help him.

“I hope you can do the same because it’s your time. In Portugal we were waiting and waiting and finally we got it. I think it is time for you because ‘66 (when England won their one and only major international trophy) was a long time ago, so good luck Big Sam.”