Saturday 23 July 2016 12:05, UK
Sam Allardyce says he has not been able to stop smiling since it was confirmed that he is to become the new manager of the England team.
It was confirmed on Friday that the experienced 61-year-old is to leave his position at Sunderland, having been handed an initial two-year contract by the FA.
Allardyce replaces Roy Hodgson, who stepped down after England were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland last month.
And Allardyce's first task will be to ensure England qualify for the next big tournament, the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The manager will soon be hard at work but on Friday he was able to celebrate the fulfilment of a long-held ambition, having been pipped to the job by Steve McClaren back in 2006.
In a video posted by The FA, a laughing Allardyce said: "Excuse me, I can't stop smiling because I have got this job.
"This is a job I have waited for, for many, may years, and I am absolutely delighted that I now sit in this privileged position of being the England national team manager.
"It is going to be a great thrill for me to take the team forward, from the nation's point of view, and hopefully make everybody proud of the England team again."
Allardyce will hold a news conference on Monday at St George's Park and his first match in charge will be a friendly at Wembley on Thursday 1 September against yet-to-be-named opponents, ahead of the World Cup 2018 qualifier in Slovakia on 4 September.
