Sam Allardyce has been named the new Crystal Palace manager.
The 62-year-old, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Eagles, is back in the Premier League less than six months after leaving Sunderland for the England job.
He was appointed the day after Palace decided to part ways with Alan Pardew with the team in 17th position and having lost eight of their past 10 Premier League matches.
Big Sam is looking to "bring some joy" to #CPFC in the New Year.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 23, 2016
Watch his first interview as manager at https://t.co/TTogt72Aro now. pic.twitter.com/RB0QyeIV7O
"We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam’s calibre and experience was available," the club's chairman Steve Parish told cpfc.co.uk.
Allardyce has managed 467 matches in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Sunderland.
It is the fifth-highest total in the competition and the Palace appointment means he will become the first man to manage six Premier League clubs.
| Manager | PL Matches | Won | Win % |
| Sir Alex Ferguson | 810 | 528 | 65.2 |
| Arsene Wenger | 769 | 444 | 57.7 |
| Harry Redknapp | 641 | 236 | 36.8 |
| David Moyes | 478 | 194 | 40.6 |
| Sam Allardyce | 467 | 157 | 33.6 |
He will take charge of the team with immediate effect in time for the Boxing Day contest against Watford.
The Eagles then have an away match against Arsenal on 28 December.
Palace’s next five PL fixtures
26 December v Watford (A)
1 January v Arsenal (A)
3 January v Swansea (H)
14 January v West Ham (A)
21 January v Everton (H)
