Allardyce retires from management: 'I have no ambitions to take another job'

Sam Allardyce sensationally stepped down from his post as manager of Crystal Palace earlier in the day Tuesday, but that decision wasn't made with an eye on another job in management.

Rather, it seems "Big Sam" is stepping away from management, entirely.

"I would like to thank everybody for their messages of support since the news broke," Allardyce said in a statement published on Palace's official website. "I've no doubt I will miss management but I certainly have no regrets at this decision.

"This is the right time for me, I know that in my heart. I have no ambitions to take another job, I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League."

Allardyce reportedly met with Palace chairman Steve Parish to talk about his future and decided to bring to a close his time as manager despite guiding the Eagles to salvation from the Premier League relegation race. The 62-year-old took the role last December after being fired from the England job. Allardyce had famously been caught telling undercover reporters how to bend the rules regarding third-party ownership as part of a newspaper sting, and was ousted after just 67 days at the helm.

Allardyce reportedly met with chairman Steve Parish, where the Dudley native decided to step away just a few days after guiding the Eagles to salvation in the Premier League relegation race. The 62-year-old took over at Selhurst Park last December after he was given the boot after 67 days at the England helm for telling undercover reporters how to circumnavigate rules on third-party ownership in a newspaper sting.

"In some ways, this has been a very difficult decision to make but in others it has been a simple one," Allardyce said in the statement.

"I will always be grateful to Crystal Palace and Steve Parish for giving me the opportunity to go out with my head held high having helped keep the club in the Premier League.

"More than that, they gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England. I felt I needed another shot at being a Premier League manager and showing that I still had the ability to achieve something significant. As I said last weekend, Palace gave me the chance of rehabilitation.

"That's why it's hard walking away now. I believe the club are heading in the right direction with a hugely supportive board of directors, a great squad of players and some of the most passionate fans I've ever met. It's been a privilege to have worked for them for the past five months.

"But there comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take - and that's been the simple part for me."

Allardyce also made clear he wants to step away from football.

"I want to be able to savour life while I'm still relatively young and when I'm still relatively healthy, even if I'm beginning to feel all my 62 years," he said.

"While I've got the energy, I want to travel and also spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager. I owe that to my wife and family."