Inside Sam Allardyce’s two-year break, from being served by robot barmen on cruise to being offered role on hit BBC show
SAM ALLARDYCE is set to end his two-year hiatus from football when he is confirmed as Leeds boss on Wednesday.
The 68-year-old is expected to take over the West Yorkshire club for the final four games of the season as he bids to steer them clear of relegation.
His last managerial stint was not a successful one as he took West Brom down to the Championship at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
And since then he has been getting up to all sorts away from the coaching game.
According to The Mail, just a few weeks ago the ex-England boss was enjoying the Bionic Bar on a Royal Caribbean cruise – where two robotic bartenders serve your drinks.
Prior to that, he visited his grandson, Sam, at university in Orlando where he is said to have enjoyed an “impromptu neck and back massage”.
He then embarked on the cruise with his wife, daughter and grandsons – with the ship labelled “the boldest, the biggest and larger than life”.
And the family celebrated the 21st birthday of grandson Keaton by visiting an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant.
Allardyce‘s time spent away from the pitch came despite him being offered routes back into the game.
He received approaches from China, Greece and Turkey but turned them all down.
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The former Newcastle, Bolton, Everton and West Ham man was also handed a lucrative deal outside of football.
BBC’s hit-show Strictly Come Dancing enquired about him appearing on the programme as a contestant – which he declined.
His wife also vetoed the idea of him going on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
But he has kept himself somewhat in the football sphere, attending a Manchester United game as a boardroom guest of Sir Alex Ferguson’s back in February.
And he returned to Old Trafford on Sunday to watch the Red Devils secure a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
In April, he was spotted at Bolton’s Papa Johns Trophy final triumph over Plymouth.
And when news of Leicester sacking Brendan Rodgers emerged during a Q&A in a corporate lounge, he was quoted as saying: “Well, I’m available”.
He also recently discussed on his “No Tippy Tappy Football” podcast what he could offer Leeds should they come calling.
He said: “I’ve no problem looking at the Leeds situation. You go in and set a structure of not to get beat.
“Confidence is built by results. It starts with a 0-0. The more draws then extend into winning matches.
“The players are suffering from a huge lack of confidence. That is built by waking up on a Sunday morning and not feeling, ‘We’ve lost again’.”