IT’S a decade since Sam Allardyce walked out on Wanderers, leaving behind the most successful top flight Bolton team for generations.

Inheriting a side which had been mid-table in the Championship and forced to sell its top players, he rebuilt, guiding the Whites back to the Premier League.

From there he ended the yo-yo spell of promotions and relegations, establishing Bolton as a team who could challenge among the elite and bringing in a wealth of world class talents.

This week, Big Sam announced he was retiring from management. From Wanderers he managed in the top flight with Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Sunderland Crystal Palace – and never got relegated.

Fans watched some world class talents brought to Bolton during his seven-and-a-half years but also some gambles which most certainly did not pay off.

We asked fans on social media for their help to pick a team of the best, and the worst, of Allardyce’s signings during his time at Wanderers.

Goalkeeper – Jussi Jaaskelainen ruled the roost for most of Allardyce’s era, and he was signed by Colin Todd, as was Steve Banks. Big Sam’s best goalkeeping signing was a toss-up between Ali Al-Habsi and Matt Clarke – with Clarke edging our vote because he played more games for the man in question.

Loaned from Bradford, where he had once been tipped as an England international, Clarke saw out the 2000/01 campaign and featured in the play-off victories over West Brom and Preston North End after Jaaskelainen picked up a knee injury.

Right-back – Bernard Mendy shades this from Nicky Hunt, who according to the popular chant could start a team all of his own. The Frenchman had only played a handful of games for Paris St Germain when he arrived on loan at Bolton, but his raw pace and flair made him exciting to watch.

Centre-back – Bruno N’Gotty could have been picked at right-back but the big man spent more of his Bolton career at number five. Signed initially on loan for the 2002/03 campaign the former Lyon, PSG, AC Milan and Marseille defender was powerful, athletic and dominant in the air.

Centre-back – A special mention must go to another Frenchman, Florent “The Rock” Laville, whose fine start to his Bolton career was wrecked by injury. The final centre-half spot goes to Senegal star Abdoulaye Faye – another uncompromising and dependable presence signed in 2005 from Lens.

Left-back – While Tal Ben-Haim’s versatility could have won him this position, yet another France World Cup winner gets the nod on the left side of defence. Vincent Candela played only a dozen times at the tail end of the 2004/05 season after arriving on loan from Roma, but oozed class, helping Allardyce’s side to qualify for their first UEFA Cup.

Holding midfield – A battle of the Spaniards. Ex-Real Madrid men Fernando Hierro against Ivan Campo. Both could play centre-half but looked more comfortable in a role which offered them more possession. Hierro’s incredible range of passing was a joy to behold but Campo arguably made a greater impact, certainly a more prolonged one, and so gets our vote.

Central midfield – Gary Speed was a typical Allardyce signing – considered past his prime by some, he signed in his thirties for £750,000 from Newcastle United and produced some of his very best football. A true leader, his shock death in 2011 was a tragic loss still felt in football.

Central midfield – Stelios and Kevin Nolan both make strong cases for inclusion – but it would be difficult to leave out the Nigerian wizard Jay Jay Okocha from a team of Allardyce greats. Once signed by PSG for £12million, the world sat up and took notice when Big Sam convinced him to come to the North West, where his unique skills helped Wanderers establish themselves as a Premier League force.

Left side of attack – World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff raised the bar at Wanderers after Allardyce managed to wrestle him away from an unhappy spell at German club Kaiserslautern in return for regular football to earn his place back in the national team. The move worked for both sides – and Youri’s technical brilliance made him a legend.

Striker – Wanderers splashed the cash to sign Nicolas Anelka, the enfant terrible whose reputation for being a difficult customer was right up Allardyce’s street. The former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker was unhappy in Turkey and though eyebrows were raised at the club record £8million paid by the Whites, the fee would be nearly doubled 18 months later when he was sold on to Chelsea.

Right side of attack – Kevin Davies was arguably Allardyce’s greatest success story at Bolton. The big striker had seen his fortunes decline since breaking onto the footballing scene with Chesterfield and earning a big-money move to Blackburn. But when Big Sam offered him a short-term deal to prove himself all over again at Bolton, he was integral to the manager’s plan within a matter of months. Davies went on to play for England and become a modern day legend at Wanderers.