Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says it's 'a pity' Sam Allardyce lost England job after one game

AFP/Getty Images
Simon Johnson31 March 2017

Antonio Conte believes Sam Allardyce was unfortunate to lose the England job after just one game.

The Chelsea coach has huge respect for the Crystal Palace boss and is looking forward to meeting him ahead of the London derby at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Allardyce was named Roy Hodgson’s replacement as England coach after Euro 2016, but was fired after just 67 days when he was caught on camera talking about how to circumvent transfer regulations.

The 62-year-old, who has never been relegated from the Premier League, has also moaned in the past that he would have managed one of the top English clubs if he was a foreign manager with the same record working abroad.

And Conte, who met him when he was in charge of West Ham, said: “I knew him from my travels in England, and I stayed with him for two days at West Ham. In West Ham's training ground.

“I had the opportunity to speak with him. I think he's a top coach. For sure, it's a pity for him being sacked by the national team after only one game.

“I know the importance of being the coach of your country, for the national team. It's great. But, for sure, it's a great pleasure tomorrow to see him and chat with him before the game, then after the game.”

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