Allardyce gone! How Big Sam compared to Pep, Klopp and Arteta – with one FIVE times better value

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 2 Jun 2023 09:59 BST
• 4 min read

Sam Allardyce arrived at Leeds United in early May as a man on a mission.

Not only was he seeking to save the club from Premier League relegation, he was also aiming to rebuild his own reputation, which he felt had been unfairly tarnished by accusations that his teams play caveman football.

In the end, he did neither and on 2 June, it was announced the collaboration would end after just four matches.

“At this stage in my career I am not sure taking on this challenge, which is potentially a long-term project, is something I could commit to," he said.

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Big Sam, though, gave himself the big billing when he arrived.

“There's nobody ahead of me in football terms. Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta. They do what they do, I do what I do. But in terms of depth of depth of knowledge, I am up there with them. I am not saying I am better than them, but I am as good as them,” he claimed in his introductory press conference.

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Leeds’ owners and fans were certainly hoping he proved them right, but ultimately the last great gamble of the Elland Road side’s season ended in expensive failure, with Allardyce able to claim just a single point from his four matches in charge.

When the former England boss took over, Leeds were 16th. They finished second bottom having had to negotiate a series of admittedly tricky fixtures.

Allardyce’s pound-for-pound performance at Leeds

Did Allardyce prove himself value for the reported £500,000 that Leeds spent on his services for just a single month? Absolutely not. But how does this points-per-pound ratio compared with those managers that he had so bullishly compared himself to when he arrived?

Guardiola is reportedly the best-paid manager in the Premier League, recouping £19.7 million per year. City paid around £220,000 to their manager for every point they win this season – although it should also be remembered that they are on course of a remarkable treble.

Liverpool did not fare so well with Klopp, who earns £15.7m per year. This equates to £234,000 per Premier League point even in a disappointing season.

Mikel Arteta is the best of the bunch, though. With a reported salary of £8.3m, Arsenal paid their manager £101,000 per point he won this season – making him five times better value than Allardyce.

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