Newcastle, May 15:

Newcastle appointed Sam Allardyce as manager.

The Magpies announced on Tuesday that the former Bolton manager had joined on a three-year contract. He replaces Glenn Roeder who quit in May 7 after only a year in full-time charge.

Allardyce flew by helicopter for a news conference at St James’ Park. The job is one of the toughest in English soccer, with Roeder was the latest to fail at a club which has not won the league title since 1927.

The Magpies have not won a domestic title since the last of six FA Cup triumphs in 1955. Its most recent major title was the 1969 Fairs Cup, the forerunner of the UEFA Cup.

Big names such as Ossie Ardiles, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness have all failed to bring major success to Newcastle in the past 16 years.

Allardyce was interviewed for the role of England coach last year despite a reputation for an unattractive, long-ball style of play with heavy reliance on set pieces. He lifted Bolton from a persistent relegation candidate to a side that finished in the Premier League’s top eight for four straight seasons, and this year led it to UEFA Cup qualification for the second time in three seasons.