Sam Allardyce: the factfile

1954, 19 October: Born in Dudley.

1971: Joins Bolton.

1973: Makes Bolton debut.

1978: Wins Second Division title, his only playing honour.

1980: Joins Sunderland, plays 26 games, two goals.

1981: Joins Millwall for £95,000.

1983, June: Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies.

1983, September: Joins Coventry.

1984: Joins Huddersfield.

1985: Returns to Bolton.

1986: Joins Preston.

1989: Joins West Brom as player coach.

1992: Returns to Preston as player coach, later becoming caretaker manager.

1994: Appointed Blackpool manager.

1996: Returns to Sunderland as director of youth under Peter Reid.

1997: Takes over at Notts County.

1998: Notts County win Division Three.

1999: Relegated from Division Two.

1999 October: Appointed Bolton boss.

2001: Bolton win promotion to Premier League after beating Preston in play-off final.

2003: Bolton survive relegation on final day of season.

2004: Bolton beaten by Middlesbrough in Carling Cup final but finish eighth in Premier League.

2005: Bolton finish sixth in Premier League to qualify for UEFA Cup for first time.

2006: Loses out on England job to Steve McClaren.

2007, 29 April: Resigns as Bolton manager.

2007, 15 May: Appointed Newcastle manager on a three-year contract.

2007, 15 June: Named in Lord Stevens' report into Premier League transfers over a conflict of interest with his former agent son Craig and Bolton Wanderers.

2008, 9 January: Allardyce and Newcastle part company after a poor start to his St James' Park reign.

2008, December: Confirms his interest in Sunderland job after Roy Keane resigns as manager at Stadium of Light.

2008, 17 December: Appointed manager of Blackburn on a three-year contract.