A year ago
This week, troubled Leeds raised questions by enlisting the 68-year-old Allardyce.
Sam Allardyce, the manager of Manchester City, recently defended the abilities of seasoned English managers, and Pep Guardiola concurs that he is on par with him in terms of ability.
When struggling Leeds turned to the 68-year-old Allardyce this week in a last-ditch effort to avoid relegation, it aroused eyebrows.
Similar to Pep, Allardyce declared "there's nobody ahead of me in football terms - not (Jurgen) Klopp, not (Mikel) Arteta" upon his introduction on Wednesday.
When his relegation-threatened team travels to treble-chasing City on Saturday afternoon, the new Leeds manager will have the chance to demonstrate that.
Guardiola's reaction to Allardyce's remarks following Wednesday's 3-0 victory against West Ham was surprisingly encouraging.
The City manager affirmed, "He's right. "I intend to be sincere. Now consider what occurred, for instance, with Neil Warnock in Huddersfield.
There is a trend among these fantastic managers that they have performed this Premier League or this competition better.
"It appears that young managers are now present, using techniques or whatever... Therefore, they are great because they enable us to be who we are.
"Take a look at the managers, like Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace.
"They are incredibly skilled, really knowledgeable, and masters of the game, so if he senses it, it is because of them.
It will be difficult because he exudes charisma, will exert pressure on the players, and is fully aware of what to do in a circumstance like this during a relegation struggle.
"It seems like these old managers... Since I'm sincere, what they have done for the club is disregarded with the remark "they're old, whatever."
"Now, those of us in our 35s, 40s, and 45s invented or created football.
"No, football has already been established, and these men are members of that league and assisted us in doing so.
So, Neil Warnock, Huddersfield was in the final position and is now safely out of harm's way.
"I was unable to witness what Harry Redknapp accomplished in this nation.
There are a lot of English managers who have achieved great success.
"Being a successful manager doesn't require being youthful. You are competent, given your experience.
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