I played for Sunderland under Sam Allardyce - what happened left me desperate to leave
Sam Allardyce has long been a polarising figure in the English game.
For some, Big Sam exists as a figurehead of one English football's golden ages, the era of the so-called Barclaysman.
From his no-nonsense approach to defending, to his two-fisted attitude when discussing the game – the former Bolton boss has become a bastion of footballing tradition, a much needed legacy man in this brave new world of expected goals and field tilt.
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His critics would paint a different picture, however. Those less keen on the former Three Lions boss would argue that Allardyce's approach was far too old school – a stick-in-the-mud sort of character. Many would argue his football was too long-ball focused and his absence – along with those who carry a similar style – from our modern game is not a surprise.
Amongst those in the latter camp is former Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who played under Allardyce's Black Cats side in the first half of the 2015-16 season, before moving to Watford. Pantilimon, who joined Sunderland from Manchester City in 2014, recently admitted that he "was not a fan" of his former manager.
"I didn't understand his way of playing football; long balls, sitting deep, all of these kind of things", the Romanian revealed at the launch of Ladbrokes' Gaffer of all Accas.
While the 6ft 6in shot-stopper never reconciled his dislike of Allardyce's methods while at Sunderland, he believes he was probably in the wrong.
"I remember I wanted to leave Sunderland in the winter transfer window, just after he joined, because we just couldn't strike a relationship, really. In the end, I can't really look back and say I blame him, because in those situations, for me, finding a solution is down to the player."
Pantilimon puts the poor relationship down to a clash of attitudes between himself and Allardyce, saying that he didn't "understand the culture".
"Until I worked with him, I never had the chance to work with a British coach, or a British manager... If you're a player, coming from abroad, and you start working straight away with someone like him, you're just going to find it difficult. You'll find it strange."
Despite having his regrets at the way he acted, the 37-year-old didn't hold back from laying in on England's decision to select Big Sam for the top job.
Pantilimon said: "I would say I was amazed when he got the England job, to be honest! That's just a completely different style of football for the national team, and having worked with him at Sunderland, I was surprised he got that job. But I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way."