5 reasons to celebrate Sam Allardyce as England manager

Big Sam's coronation could be described as life imitating art. Or at least film. The image of Big Sam is one of a typical English manager stuck in his ways, a bit like Ricky Tomlinson as Mike Bassett: England manager in the uproarious early noughties film, a bloke who prefers long balls, a robust style of play and a night out on the sauce with the lads. But the stereotype is not true. Allardyce is a progressive coach, one who embraces a way to better one's self through meditation, strength and conditioning, sports science and performance analysis.

Aged 61, and born in Dudley, Allardyce played briefly in the US, but never had to leave these shores to make a name for himself. That he is known only by the moniker Big Sam is a huge compliment. Big Sam is a brand in itself. He sometimes talks about himself in the third person, always an odd mannerism, but remains a highly successful manager in English football, cutting his cloth to suit his needs at various outposts, and avoiding relegation on his own watch (he arrived halfway though the season at Notts County in 1997, but led them to promotion from Division Three a year later).

You do not last 25 years as a manager at such an elite level of football, at demanding supports in Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland, without knowing how to exploit various methods and tactics. The only thing he has in common with Mike Bassett is his ability to enjoy himself on a night out. And his famous views on those fascinated by Barcelona's "tiki-taka" which he once described as "b******s" such was his keenness to play high tempo with quality crosses.

Contrary to popular opinion, Allardyce does not play football from another century. Jose Mourinho, the Manchester United manager, extolled the benefits of Allardyce during a press conference in China on Thursday. Yet it was Mourinho who castigated Big Sam after Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by his West Ham side back in January 2014.

"This is football from the 19th century," said Mourinho. "This is not the Premier League. This is not the best league in the world." Chelsea had 39 attempts on goal, but West Ham held out with merely the one.

Yet this is the pot calling the kettle black. Mourinho is the same manager who has won national titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain and Champions Leagues with Portuguese and Italian sides based on tactical supremacy built on a solid defensive structure. Some would call it boring, others would call it sound management. When Mourinho looks at himself in the mirror, there is a touch of Big Sam staring back. Which leads us nicely to the third point..

Allardyce's starting point in training is trying to get across the importance of keeping it tight to his players. Not least because you can't lose a match if you don't concede, but if you don't concede and score first you tend to win the match. Home teams win over 70 per cent games if they score first goal in the Premier League - away teams almost 60 - percentages Allardyce is acutely aware of in his outlook.

If he can sort out England's defence, the national team could be dangerous again. You don't need to be blessed with the greatest talent to win tournaments which Portugal have just outlined at the Euro 2016 finals.

The key concern for England before Euro 2016 was the problem that lurked at the back, an issue that proved not to be unfounded as the national side lost preventable goals against Russia, Wales and Iceland on their way to departing in the last 16. England scored first against Iceland yet still lost. It was one of the bleakest nights in England football history, but the Allardyce attitude should help to solve such an issue with the emphasis firmly on scoring first and not conceding goals. And so we go neatly to point four...

It might be called the "Impossible Job", but England managers can help themselves. In his autobiography, Allardyce also points out that the "only right way is the winning way". It is difficult to dispute such a point. Especially in tournament football where the end justifies the means. We have just being treated to a fairly lamentable tournament in which Portugal managed to rise mildly above the overall level of mediocrity on the continent to give a masterclass in defending.

Whether or not the new European champions sated the palate is missing the bigger picture: Portugal have just won world football's second biggest football crown by drawing three matches in the group stages against Iceland, Austria and Hungary, beating Croatia 1-0 after extra-time in the last 16, edging Poland on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the quarter-finals over 120 minutes, downing Wales 2-0 in the last four and upsetting France 1-0 in the final. Again after extra-time.

As the Portuguese manager Fernando Santos said prior to his country's greatest moment. "Pretty football” rarely works in tournaments, better to "win ugly" than lose. "I want them to keep saying the same thing," said Santos. "That we're this and we're that, that we won undeservedly. I want it to continue! I want Portugal to win without deserving it."

If England were Portugal this summer, would England fans really care how they conquered Europe?

Allardyce might well be the first England manager who will go partying with his players to celebrate. He likes to be among the lads, but treats them like adults. There is a time to work, and a time to play. The evidence suggests Allardyce knows how to create harmony among his football squads, a key element of an England elite who have struggled badly to garner such an alchemy, possibly since Terry Venables was England manager at Euro '96.

When you think of the confidence damaged among players like Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, John Stones and even Joe Hart after the chastening experience in France this summer, a strong character will be need to provide leadership.

Allardyce is blessed with the ability to inspire his players, and his staff. During his days as Hull manager, Phil Brown once told me he cited his wife Karen and Big Sam as the greatest influences on his life. "When Sam offered me a coaching job at Blackpool, I had to take a 75 per cent cut in wages, because I was still a player. I was a player, coaching the first team, taking the reserve team..and..it kept on going," said Brown.

"Sam said to me never underestimate your first offer. It gets you on the ladder. Money should not be the main motivator. Once I got on the ladder, it was the best bit of advice I had. Two years later, I was a Premier League coach under Sam at Bolton."