He signed in Dudley Town by Bolton Wanderers in the year 1969 while he spent around 9 years playing at Bolton while helping this club to win in the title of Second Division during the year 1977-78. He played as a journeyman player and he spent time with Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, Convetry City, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Millwall and Sunderland. He also played for West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End. While at Preston, he helped Preston when they won the promotion for Fourth Division in the year 1986-87.

For his management, he started with Irish club known as Limerick during the year 1991. He led this club to League of Ireland First Division title of 1991-1992. Afterwards, he returned to England where he started to coach Preston North End and he served for sometime like a caretaker-manager. His first permanent job was at Blackpool in England in the year 1994. He was sacked in two years since he failed to achieve any promotion.

Since 1997 until 1998, he was in charge of Notts County and he took them to the title of Third Division in the year 1997 and 1998. Afterwards, he returned to the Bolton Wanderers like a manager and he led them to be club promoting away of First Division using play-offs in the year 2001. They were able to reach to League Cup final and the UEFA cup qualification. After a spell with Newcastle United since 2007 until 2008, Sam Allardyce was the manager of Blackburn Rover. He became the manager of the West Ham United in 2011 and he helped the club to get to the promotion.

According to his biography, Sam Allardyce was born in council house of Old Park Farm Estate in Dudley and his parents are Mary Agnes and Robert Allardyce. The father was working like a police sergeant. The two parents had origins in Scotland, the mother from Dumfries and the father from Naim. His siblings are Robert Junior and Mary. He attended Sycamore Green Primary school and Mons Hill School. He suffered dyslexia and he failed eleven plus exam. He met Lynn Allardyce, who became his future wife while in Bolton Wanderers. They got married in 1974. Their children are Rachel and Craig. His yearly salary is 1.8 million pounds with a net worth of 10 million pounds. He resigns from England management in 2016. His twitter is @TheBig_Sam.