Big Sam paid tribute to his former club Limerick during the press conference.
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Sam Allardyce was appointed England manager yesterday on a two-year contract, tasked with restoring pride in the national team after their dismal performances at Euro 2016.
Rooney, England’s all-time leading scorer, led England at the recent European Championship in France, where it lost 2-1 to Iceland in the last 16.
The experienced Manchester United stalwart has served as Three Lions skipper for nearly two years after being appointed by Roy Hodgson as successor to Steven Gerrard in the aftermath of a disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil. “We will adapt our style to play different opponents”.
Allardyce will pick his first Three Lions squad in late August ahead of the opening World Cup Qualifier with Slovakia on 4 September.
And the former Blackburn, Bolton, Newcastle and Sunderland boss received a positive endorsement from legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who was consulted over the appointment.
Sammy Lee and Paul Clement are reportedly set to be confirmed as working with Allardyce. We need to do what I did at Everton: we need to move right up the table and be more near the top end.
“So whatever people may tell me, it doesn’t stop me from trying something else, or trying to create another opportunity”.
My coaching technique is to win a football match – home or away, whether we are at Wembley or not – and adapt to the style we play to the opposition. The young players have a lot of experience now and some has been bitter.
“I think I’ve got the experience to challenge the England team and challenge myself”.
Asked if Rooney could be a first-choice for England if he is forced to play second fiddle to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial at Old Trafford, Allardyce added: “I don’t know until that happens with anybody, let alone Wayne Rooney”. He played up front on his own all season with me and scored 15 goals in the Premier League – 18 in total.
“I’ve been with Sam for a number of years, I started with him at Blackpool and I always thought he would go on to be England manager”, said Brown, who turned down the chance to be Allardyce’s assistant at Sunderland last October.
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He continued: I think that from my point of view what hit me the most was the overwhelming support from all areas over the last few days, the goodwill messages I have had not only from friends in and outside the game but the nation as a whole.
