Sam Allardyce 'surprised' that Rafa Benitez took Newcastle job

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce admits he was surprised by Rafa Benitez's decision to take the Newcastle job.

The two men have enjoyed a less-than-cordial relationship in the past, and they will go head to head at St James' Park on Sunday in what Allardyce has billed as the most important Tyne-Wear derby ever.

Both clubs are in severe danger of slipping out of the Premier League, with Newcastle in the drop zone and Sunderland one place above it.

Newcastle staged something of a coup to land the Spaniard, who started the season in charge at Real Madrid, as Steve McClaren's replacement and his appointment was not something Allardyce expected.

Allardyce said: "I have to say I was quite surprised, yes, but obviously being a football man, he wanted to get back in and he sees Newcastle as a good opportunity.

"I have nothing against any foreign manager coming in and pitting their wits against us in the Premier League because it's the biggest brand and the biggest league in the world.

"But from Steve's point of view, I felt sorry for him and of course another English manager bites the dust. There are only three of us left now - there's only me, Alan Pardew and Eddie Howe left now, so that's a great shame.

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"But pitting your wits against some of the best coaches in Europe is always a challenge and Rafa is one of those, I don't think anybody would argue with that.

"We are getting Pep Guardiola, we have got Jurgen Klopp, we have still got Arsene Wenger and people like that, so we are enticing the best coaches in the world to come and work here, so it's always a great challenge as a manager to be going against them and trying to get your team better than theirs to beat them."

Allardyce and Benitez have not always been on the best of terms.

Allardyce suggested in his autobiography that Benitez had little to do with Liverpool's remarkable 2005 Champions League final success, with the Spaniard in return asking what 'Big Sam' had ever won.

However, Allardyce insists that is all in the past.

He said: "Early days, it was a bit ferocious, but the mellowing of Sam Allardyce has happened over the last few years.

"But it's not about me or Rafa on Sunday, apart from us doing our jobs behind the scenes. I'm sure there's nothing I can say or do, and there's certainly nothing Rafa can say or do in his press conference that's going to rattle me, that's for sure.

"It would be a massive escape if both of us did it because it's certainly looking like at the moment, for me, it's probably Swansea or Crystal Palace that we can catch, and they have to lose a lot of their games.

"There are nine games, they are going to have to lose or draw them - if they get a couple more wins, they'll be safe because I still think 38 points will do it this year."