Allardyce rules out joining elite

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce concedes he is unlikely to ever get the chance to prove himself at a top European club.

The former Bolton and Newcastle boss had previously claimed that he was good enough to take charge of an elite European team such as Real Madrid, Inter or Manchester United, but has given up hope of that now.

While at Blackburn in 2012, Allardyce said: “I’m not suited to Bolton or Blackburn. I would be more suited to Inter or Real Madrid – it wouldn’t be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the double or league every time.”

However, the 58-year-old feels that his prospects of ever getting such a job are too remote to consider.

“I won’t ever be going to a top-four club so I think we’ll just leave it at that,” he told reporters.

“I can understand what I can do, I understand my ability as a manager and I just do my job to the best of my ability wherever I work.”

West Ham host Manchester City on Saturday and, if they win and other results go their way, Allardyce could find himself in charge of a Premier League top-four outfit by the end of the day.