From failure to scandal, the English national football team has reached a new low.
After just 67 days in charge, Sam Allardyce has left his “dream job” by mutual agreement. In many ways, Allardyce symbolises the English footballing dream.
A fresh start means another chance for optimism, and when 'Big Sam' was appointed as head coach, he couldn't keep a smile off his face. He took England to a first victory in the World Cup qualifiers and things were looking up. A lucky 1-0 win against Slovakia - how far could we go under Sam’s guidance? World Cup contenders? Winners? Best team in the world? That is the fantasy of every England fan.
Just like owners end up looking like their dogs, Allardyce's short reign has been an accurate representation of his team. A characteristic slip-up has left his dream in ruins. Euro 2016 was exactly the same - will we ever get out of this vicious cycle?
The fact that this outrage happened at all questions the choice of the FA. Roy Hodgson was appointed mainly for his political neutrality and ability to avoid any potential scandals.
The FA employed Allardyce in full knowledge of his greed and past controversy. In 2013 he was caught up in a tax fraud scandal involving a £250 million investment in a fake cinema company. Former Blackburn Rovers manager, Steve Kean, claimed that Allardyce had been sacked because he was "a crook," before paying "substantial" undisclosed damages to him two years later. If not for his morality, he could only have been chosen for his managerial talent. But whether there was any in the first place is doubtful.
I wrote an article a matter of months ago expressing my disappointment at his choice as manager. I now have an overwhelming feeling of dèja vu. Which options do we have left? The truth is that there aren't very many. I still maintain that a foreign manager is best, however Gareth Southgate’s appointment seems increasingly likely. One thing is for sure: whoever takes the job will have to deal with the footballing sword of Damocles hanging above their head.
Joshua Korber Hoffman is a 15 year-old football fanatic and Arsenal supporter. He writes a football blog called The Young Gun, in which his love for writing and the beautiful game intersect.
