Former Sunderland chairman and forward Niall Quinn has hailed the job that Sam Allardyce has done at the Stadium of Light, saying he hopes the manager will retire on Wearside.
The Black Cats retained their Premier League status with an emphatic 3-0 win over Everton, which condemned Newcastle United and Norwich City to Championship football next season.
Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick sent Joel Robles the wrong way and Lamine Kone scored two thumping finishes to see Allardyce’s side to safety in the league.
Allardyce is the right man on Wearside
Quinn has praised the impact that Allardyce has made since coming to the club, seeing the Black Cats turn their fate around from December onwards.
“The fit is so good with Sam Allardyce,” he said on Sky Sports. “I hope he signs for quite a number of years and sees out his days here.”
Quinn believes the former West Ham United boss is the “perfect fit” and it is clear to see that he is a firm favourite among the home faithful.
He added: “The Sunderland fans should louder for a tackle than they do for goals sometimes, and he brings the robustness that this club was missing.”
Black Cats are well organised under Big Sam
Quinn admitted that Sunderland have had a “soft centre” at times in the past, but not under Allardyce’s leadership, as he prides himself in having a well-organised side.
The former chairman has also spoke about Big Sam’s capabilities in the transfer market, after the manager brought in key players in his first transfer window as Black Cats boss.
“They have been used to escaping, but there is something different about this. He has something really big going on now and I think it could last for years,” Quinn said.
Sunderland conclude their season with an away trip to Watford, and they have only lost once in the last 10 games, seeing them as one of the form sides in the Premier League.