rejoined the San Diego Padres on Saturday, a wee

LONDON -- Sam Allardyce pledged to make England proud of its perennially-underperforming national team after being hired as its manager on Friday, following an embarrassing European Championship showing under Roy Hodgson.In a break from previous lengthy deals for managers, the English Football Association only handed Allardyce an initial two-year contract through the 2018 World Cup after securing his release from Premier League club Sunderland.Allardyce takes over one of footballs most high-profile and challenging jobs after a 25-year management career that yielded no major trophies but won him plaudits for over-achieving with modest teams.It is no secret that this is the role I have always wanted, Allardyce said. For me, it is absolutely the best job in English football. I will do everything I can to help England do well and give our nation the success our fans deserve.Above all, we have to make the people and the whole country proud.The 61-year-old Allardyce, like Hodgson, was never selected by England during his playing career.Hodgsons hopes of extending his four-year stint with England were dashed when its Euro 2016 campaign ended in June with a humbling loss to Iceland in the round of 16.The FA also said Allardyce has a mandate to shape a strong, purposeful team identity and maximize the performance potential of a young, talented England squad at a major tournament.Allardyces immediate priority is to take England to the 2018 World Cup, with qualifying starting in September.I know we have talented, committed players, Allardyce said, and it is time for us to deliver.Allardyce has never managed a leading club, once joking if his name was Allardici he would have secured one of the top Premier League jobs that typically go to foreign coaches.Allardyces only experience outside England is in the now-defunct UEFA Cup with Bolton, where he spent eight years. It was while at Bolton, where Allardyce spent much of his playing career, that he was overlooked for the England job in 2006.Allardyce, who has also managed Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham, has a reputation for improving struggling teams -- qualities which the FA recognized in hiring a respected and passionate homegrown coach.His excellent managerial credentials, including his ability to realize the potential of players and teams, develop a strong team ethos and embrace modern methods that enhance performance, made him the outstanding choice, FA chief executive Martin Glenn said.Allardyces appointment was the result of what Glenn called a thorough process over three weeks.We could not help but be energized by his personal perspective on Englands future and how it complemented the extensive work that we are looking to build on at St. Georges Park, Glenn said, referencing the England team training base in central England.Allardyces England debut will be a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 1, before taking his team to Slovakia for the first World Cup qualifier on Sept. 4. Pirates Jerseys China . PETERSBURG, Fla. Pittsburgh Pirates Gear . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Pittsburgh Pirates Shirts . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Cheap Pirates Jerseys . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. SAN DIEGO -- Yangervis Solarte rejoined the San Diego Padres on Saturday, a week after his wife, Yuliett, died due to complications of cancer at age 31.Manager Andy Green said the third baseman will start Sunday in the finale of a four-game series against San Francisco.Its good to see him, Green said. Hes part of our family, so were thrilled to have him back.Solarte said he appreciated the support from the Padres.I dont really have enough words to thank the organization for what theyve done, Solarte said through a translator. When I saw some of the guys at the services down in Miami, I was really suurprised.dddddddddddd I think my wife would have liked to see that and I think shes happy in the sky, looking down and knowing that happened.Solarte said his three daughters and his mother are with him in San Diego.It feels a little different, and shes gone now, but at the end of the day those things are out of our control, he said. Those things are up to God and that was his decision. We fought. We were hoping that shed be around for a little bit longer, but here we are. ' ' '