Jose Mourinho says he feels “very sorry” for Sam Allardyce after his brief stint as England manager came to an end on Tuesday.
Allardyce’s 67-day tenure was ended by mutual agreement following talks with Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn on Tuesday, after the Daily Telegraph published footage from a meeting between a pair of undercover reporters and the 61-year-old.
In the video, Allardyce allegedly told the two men, who were purporting to be from a Far East investment firm, how they might “get around” FA regulations concerning the transfers of players under third-party ownership.
Allardyce and Mourinho have enjoyed something of a love-hate relationship over the years, but the Portuguese has expressed sympathy for ‘Big Sam’ in the wake of this week’s controversy.
“I like Sam. I feel very sorry for him because I know it was a dream job,” Mourinho told reporters at a press conference.
“It will not interfere in any way with my relationship with him. I liked him and respected him before and that is not going to change.
“It is between him and the FA.”
Allardyce earlier conceded his actions had been “silly” and said: “Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that.”
