Alan Pardew denies talks over a first job in English football in over SIX YEARS – but the former Newcastle boss admits he would be ‘tempted by the challenge’

Alan Pardew has denied recent speculation that he could take his first job in English football, having not managed in the UK for more than six years.

The 62-year-old’s last appointment in England ended when he was sacked as West Brom manager in 2018. The Baggies had hired Pardew in the hope he could improve their poor form.

But during his four-month reign as their manager, the club once again fell to bottom of the Premier League, with Pardew winning just three games, two of which were in the FA Cup.

Prior to that, Pardew had spent his entire managerial career operating at clubs in England, the most notable being Newcastle. But it was after his departure from The Hawthorns that he moved abroad and was signed by Dutch side Ado Den Haag in 2019. Things would not go very well for the Englishman at the Dutch second division club either: Pardew left. after just eight games in charge.

Since then, he has worked as technical director and interim coach of CSKA-Sofia, before a brief spell managing Greek side Aris Aloniki between 2022 and 2023.

According SunPardew, who has now been unemployed since February 2023, had been “in contact with Burnley to fill the Championship side’s vacant managerial role” following Vincent Kompany’s shock move to Bayern Munich.

It would be a bit ironic if Pardew took charge of the Clarets, considering the last game he oversaw in England was West Brom’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley in 2018, a game that was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for his mandate in the bags.

But the former West Ham, Reading and Newcastle boss has since denied rumors suggesting he could succeed Kompany, despite admitting he would jump at the chance to take charge of the Championship side.

‘Well, it’s obviously not me. Otherwise, it would have been officially announced,” he said. talk SPORT Sam Matterface on Tuesday, when pressed about rumors he might return to the UK to direct.

But it seems the 62-year-old is keen to get back to coaching in England.

He said: “It’s good to be linked with them, at least.” I think the team is good enough, the property is well organized and they have the finances to do it; perhaps they are in a better position than Leicester was last year to bounce back.

“So I think whoever gets the job, it’s going to be a great opportunity.”

‘For me, it’s a big challenge that I would like to take on because I would like to take a team back to the Prem.

‘I did it, I put together teams to return to the Premier League. West Ham, Southampton. So yes, I would be open to it.

“Whether that is known, and whether it is the rumor that has been spread rather than the actual link, I don’t know.”

Pardew subsequently remained coy when asked if Burnley had contacted him, but appears eager to return to management anyway.

The Englishman, who enjoyed spells at Crystal Palace, Charlton, Tottenham and Reading as a player, would perhaps be a good candidate to help Burnley return to the top flight following their relegation to the Championship this season.

Pardew has achieved promotion three times in his career, once as a Palace player, as Reading manager in 2002 and as West Ham manager in 2005.