LONDON: Sam Allardyce is back in football as manager of Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace boss on a two-and-a-half-year deal, less than three months after his departure from the national team.

In September, the 62-year-old stood down from what he said was his dream job after just 67 days and one match in charge, having made ill-advised comments while in conversation with undercover reporters in a newspaper sting.

The issue was not mentioned in a four-and-a-half-minute interview with Allardyce on Palace’s official website, as they unveiled their new manager after ending Alan Pardew’s near two-year tenure with the club.

Allardyce, who will be in the Palace hotseat for their Boxing Day clash at Watford, admitted the lure of the Premier League and the chance to work with talents such as Yohan Cabaye, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke was behind his swift return to management.

He said: “It’s the best league in the world, I don’t think anybody doubts that. As difficult and as pressurised as it is, it’s where I’ve been comfortable for many years now.

“I hope I can bring some joy, particularly over Christmas and New Year, and over the long term between now and the end of the season.

“I like the look of the squad and that’s the probably the reason that I’m here, because I feel that the club can go forward from here and hopefully I can help it go forward.”

Allardyce inherits a side low on confidence after just one win in 11 Premier League matches, a run that resulted in Pardew’s dismissal on Thursday.

Pardew’s more expansive style of play took the Eagles to the FA Cup final last season but also brought only six Premier League wins in 2016.

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