Former Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce had a clear motive ever since taking over his job on Wearside.
After Sunderland’s dire start to the 2015/16 season under the out-of-depth Dick Advocaat, where the Black Cats were unable to notch a single win under the Dutchman’s tenure, all eyes turned towards Sam Allardyce to steer the side away from the depths of relegation.
In his second game as Black Cats boss, Allardyce kickstarted his time on Wearside, notching a 3-0 win against Newcastle United, one that would be decisive in the relegation picture later on in the season.
The end of the campaign saw Allardyce lead Sunderland on a remarkable run of form, notching 12 points in their remaining six games, which included wins against Norwich City, Chelsea, and Everton, with the latter confirming safety for the Black Cats, sparking an eruption of celebration from the coach.
Following the monumental achievement for Sunderland, Allardyce said that he had motivations, as well as keeping the club up, and that was to prove one man wrong.
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Sam Allardyce wanted to prove Dick Advocaat wrong by securing Sunderland’s survival
Sunderland’s survival in the Premier League was confirmed following a 3-0 win over Everton, with Patrick Van Aanholt and Lamine Kone amongst the goals, the latter of which bagged an unlikely brace to seal the win.
Following the game, Allardyce let the press into one of his motivations, not just for himself, but also for the players, and it was certainly one that played a part in them staying up, and that was providing former boss Advocaat wrong with his dismissal of the squad.
Per The Guardian, Allardyce said: “What was sweet was proving Dick wrong. I’ve got the utmost respect for Dick Advocaat but I used that as motivation for the players.”
Dick Advocaat must still be remembered fondly for his Wearside tenure
Unfortunately for Advocaat, his spell on Wearside ended in a rather unfortunate manner for the Dutchman, with the 2015/16 Premier League season beginning poorly that he made the call to move on.
However, the business end of the 2014/15 season that saw Sunderland once again battling against relegation saw, like Allardyce did the year following, Advocaat come to the rescue, beat Newcastle United in his second game, and keep the Black Cats up by the skin of their teeth, with a draw against Arsenal confirming the club’s Premier League status.
It ended with a poor run of form, but Advocaat still had his moment of heroics on Wearside, someone who, without them, Sunderland would have been condemned to the Championship much earlier.