Sam Allardyce's top Bolton Wanderers moments, 25 years on

Already a hero from his playing days at Burnden Park, where he had graduated from the youth team to become a defensive bedrock of Ian Greaves’ swaggering side of the seventies, ‘Big Sam’ came back to his spiritual home as manager on October 19, 1999, also the day of his 45th birthday.

Just as he did as a player, his seven-and-a-half years in charge at Bolton would once again restore the club’s reputation at the highest level, but not only that, bring with it a galaxy of world class players, European football, and a new generation of Wanderers supporters.

We have picked out 25 of the most memorable moments in Allardyce’s reign, which are explored in full by Marc Iles and Henry Hewitt in a special 250th episode of our Wanderers podcast, The Buff, released this week.

Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan and Stelios celebrate as Wanderers reach the Carling Cup final with a two-legged semi-final win against Aston Villa (Image: PA) 25 - Wanderers may not have won the 2004 Carling Cup final against Middlesbrough but their magical semi-final win against Aston Villa will definitely live long in the memory. The first leg was one of Jay-Jay Okocha's finest hours.

A cartoon produced by Kevin Collins of Big Sam's bet with Mark Lawrenson (Image: Kevin Collins) 24 – Nobody gave Bolton a hope of staying up in that first season, not least BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson who bet his famous moustache that the Whites would make a swift return to the second tier. Big Sam took great pleasure in winning that bet.

Sam Allardyce and Gudni Bergsson lift the 2001 play-off trophy (Image: PA) 23 – Gudni Bergsson had been signed by Bruce Rioch and became captain under Colin Todd – but Allardyce managed to coax some of the Icelander’s best football out of him at the tail end of his career, helping to establish Bolton among the elite.

Bolton's Gundi Bergsson celebrates his goal with Kevin Nolan (left) and Dean Holdsworth (right) during the Division One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg game against West Bromwich Albion at the Reebok Stadium (Image: PA) 22 – After a rescue act at the Hawthorns in the 2001 play-off semi-final first leg, Wanderers blitzed Gary Megson’s Baggies 3-0 at the Reebok to book their place in the final against Preston North End. Bergsson, Ricardo Gardner and Michael Ricketts provided the goals.

Michael Ricketts became a Premier League striker under Sam Allardyce (Image: PA) 21 – Bought for a modest £500,000, Allardyce managed to convert Walsall striker Ricketts into a fully fledged England international and an asset that would eventually be sold for £3.5million. Though he struggled for form towards the end of his stay, he weighed in with an impressive 46 goals in 112 games.

Stelios Giannakopoulos became one of Allardyce's canniest signings (Image: PA) 20 – By the summer of 2003 Wanderers had expanded their recruitment from short-term deals, and the capture of Stelios Giannakopoulos from Olympiakos proved one of Big Sam’s most astute deals. The goal-scoring midfielder went on to become a fan favourite, winning the Euros with Greece 12 months later.

Kevin Nolan was given his debut by Big Sam in 2000 (Image: PA) 19 – Handed his debut as a teenager in March 2000 against Charlton, Kevin Nolan went on to become an established Premier League star under Allardyce, spending nearly a decade with the club before a £4m move to Newcastle United. A regular scorer, a captain, and a player who became synonymous with Big Sam’s success.

Sam Allardyce on the training ground at Euxton in 2005 (Image: PA) 18 – Bolton’s training facilities in 1999 were sparse, to say the least. The old ROF Chorley base was effectively a chain of portacabins and a few football pitches at the start but with investment became a training ground facility comparable with anything else in the top-flight. It also became home to Big Sam’s famed ‘War Room’ which led the data-driven approach.

Sam Allardyce was forced into a radical rebuild after play-off semi-final defeat to Ipswich Town in 2000 (Image: PA) 17 – Defeat to Ipswich Town in the 2000 play-offs forced Bolton to sell top stars like Eidur Gudjohnsen, Mark Fish and Claus Jensen to recoup some of the money they had spent building the Reebok Stadium. But it also proved a watershed moment for Allardyce, who rebuilt the squad with experienced heads like Mike Whitlow, Simon Charlton, Paul Warhurst, Ian Marshall and Colin Hendry, which proved a successful recipe just 12 months later.

Fernando Hierro enjoyed one memorable season at Bolton under Big Sam (Image: PA) 16 – Another older head recruited in August 2004 was Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro. The Spaniard spent just one season with Bolton, Allardyce easing his early struggles by moving him from central defence to holding midfield. One of the classiest players ever to have worn a Wanderers shirt, he waved goodbye with a home victory against Everton.

Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce had some famous touchline tussels (Image: PA) 15 – As Wanderers improved in the Premier League, their unconventional tactical approach often ruffled the feathers of the big clubs, not least those of Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez. Allardyce’s verbal jousting before and after each game was a joy to behold.

Ivan Campo became a terrace hero after signing for Bolton Wanderers under Big Sam (Image: PA) 14 – Just like Hierro, Ivan Campo came from Real Madrid with a huge reputation. Big Sam talked him into a permanent move in 2003, doing wonders for the sale of wigs in the club shop and helping to create an enduring cult figure who holds his popularity among the supporters to this very day.

Jussi Jaaskelainen saves a penalty from Blackburn's Benni McCarthy (Image: PA) 13 – There were many remarkable results in Big Sam’s tenure but few compared with the dramatic 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers in October 2006. Campo had put Bolton ahead before Jussi Jaaskelainen made two penalty saves from Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy in the closing stages, with Kevin Nolan also sent off.

Leeds United's Alan Smith leaves the field in tears wearing a Bolton shirt in 2004 (Image: PA) 12 – Very few games illustrated the changing of the guard in the Premier League quite like Wanderers’ 4-1 win against Leeds United in May 2004. The result effectively relegated the Yorkshiremen, who had Mark Viduka sent off, while the Whites were on their way to the first of four consecutive top-eight finishes.

Nicolas Anelka signed for Bolton for £8million from Fenerbahçe (Image: PA) 11 – Allardyce often butted heads with late chairman, Phil Gartside, and owner, Eddie Davies, over the money made available for signings and the issue unquestionably hastened his departure in April 2007. But his one landmark signing was that of French international Nicolas Anelka for a club record £8m – a player whose reputation was questioned on his arrival but who eventually rebuilt his career with Bolton and was sold to Chelsea for £15m in 2008.

Michael Ricketts enjoying himself in Bolton's 5-0 win at Leicester City on the opening day of the 2001/2 season (Image: PA) 10 – When Bolton got promotion in 2001, their entrance in the big league could hardly have been more spectacular. A 5-0 rout of Leicester City at Filbert Street was followed by a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough and shock victory against Liverpool. Big Sam was top of the league!

Kevin Davies became a Bolton hero under Allardyce, pictured challenging Wolves' Paul Ince (Image: PA) 9 – Kevin Davies’s promising career had gone off the rails by 2003 but Allardyce picked him up on a free transfer and turned him into one of the top flight’s most feared target men. The focal point of his team, ‘Super Kev’ would go on to play for England and captain the club, making more than 400 appearances.

Kevin Nolan celebrates his winner against Manchester United in 2002 (Image: PA) 8 – Nothing beats beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Big Sam did it twice in his first two attempts. Kevin Nolan and Michael Ricketts did it in October 2001, and 11 months later Nolan struck again to sink Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Sam Allardyce was given a 10-year deal by Bolton after promotion in 2001 (Image: PA) 7 – Though relations soured towards the end, Wanderers signalled their intent to build a club to Sam Allardyce’s blueprint when they gave him a 10-year contract after promotion in 2001. That stability helped build a formidable network of coaching and support staff who helped get everything out of the players and keep Bolton punching above their financial weight.

Gary Speed applauds the Bolton fans with Kevin Davies in 2005 (Image: PA) 6 – Signed from Newcastle United for £750,000, Gary Speed was seen as somewhat of a gamble at the age of 34. A Premier League winner with Leeds 12 years earlier, many felt his best football was behind him – but the Welshman enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Allardyce.

Wanderers players and staff celebrate survival on the final day of the 2002/3 season (Image: PA) 5 – Staying up on the last day of the season at West Ham’s expense in 2003 was especially sweet for Bolton. The Hammers were the national media darlings but a 2-1 win against Middlesbrough courtesy of goals from Per Frandsen and Jay-Jay Okocha had Big Sam dancing on the touchline with joy.

Sam Allardyce and Nat Lofthouse after the victorious 2001 play-off final against Preston North End (Image: PA) 4 – The first step is often the hardest to take, and the play-off final win against Preston North End in 2001 may well be Allardyce’s most important result. Gareth Farrelly, Michael Ricketts and Ricardo Gardner provided a day to remember at the Millennium Stadium, with the great Nat Lofthouse shedding tears of happiness at the final whistle.

Youri Djorkaeff celebrates a goal against Southampton in 2002 (Image: PA) 3 – ‘Little Old Bolton’ weren’t supposed to sign players with the pedigree of Youri Djorkaeff, the silk France international who had fallen out of favour at German side Kaiserslautern but needed first team football to get back into his county’s 2002 World Cup plans. One of the great free transfers – and a player who lit up the Reebok for three seasons, scoring 21 times in 84 games.

Jay-Jay Okocha gets a birthday cake from Big Sam on his 30th (Image: PA) 2 – After Youri, there was Jay-Jay. So good they named him twice, the Nigerian wizard wowed the Premier League with his eye-popping skills in a Bolton team that was apparently functional and difficult to watch. Okocha became club captain, played for four seasons, scoring 18 times in 142 games, as is regarded as one of the club’s genuine greats.

El-Hadji Diouf scores against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Wanderers' first ever European adventure under Sam Allardyce (Image: PA) 1 – Bolton Wanderers in Europe. A sentence few would honestly have believed possible when Allardyce walked through the doors from Notts County and began his journey in 1999. But a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on May 7, 2005, ensured UEFA Cup qualification and some memorable nights against Plovdiv, Sevilla, Zenit, Besiktas, Guimares and Marseille.

Big Sam left with a second European campaign on the cards – but not the Champions League tilt he had hoped for.