"?Sam Allardyce has officially been appointed as the new manager at Crystal Palace, taking over from Alan Pardew following his Selhurst Park dismissal earlier this week. He will take charge immediately, leading the Eagles on Boxing Day against Watford.
For Allardyce, who spent four years in London in charge of West Ham, it is his first employment since stepping down from the role of England manager after being the subject of an undercover sting.
#CPFC are pleased to announce Sam Allardyce as the new First Team Manager on a two-and-a-half year contract - https://t.co/fKHsWCuAey ?? pic.twitter.com/nkA3V7z3qX
The former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn boss was the immediate name in the frame very shortly after Pardew's sacking was confirmed and has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal that will keep him at his new club through to the end of the 2018/19 season.
Chairman Steve Prish told "?CPFC.co.uk, "We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available."
Having previously helped Bolton punch well above their weight and qualify for European football, Allardyce was able to save Sunderland from relegation when he arrived on Wearside last season and is now tasked with keeping Palace out of danger after a truly dismal run of results under Pardew.
The Eagles sit just one point above the relegation zone and have lost as many as eight of their last 10 Premier League games. Under Pardew, the team won only six league games in the whole calendar year with only a few days of December remaining.
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