Now in charge at Premier League Crystal Palace, Allardyce lasted just 67 days and one match as England boss.

The 62-year-old, who by his own admission acted like an «idiot», left his dream job just a fortnight before what would have been his first home match as England manager, against Malta at Wembley in October.

He tried to watch on television but found the experience too painful, telling The Times and Daily Mail on Saturday: «I maybe lasted 15, 20 minutes. But I couldn’t continue. I had to turn it off and watch something else.

«It was Wembley and I hadn’t even had the opportunity to get a game under my belt there. That would have been a big moment for me. It was a gut-wrencher that.»