Management Career
In March 1965 Allen joined Wolverhampton Wanderers as senior coach, working under manager Andy Beattie. Following Beattie's departure, Allen replaced him as manager in September 1965, just after their relegation to the Second Division. He signed quality players, bringing names such as Derek Dougan and Mike Bailey to Molineux. He guided them to promotion in 1966–67, and Wolves consolidated their top-flight status in 1967–68. However he was sacked in November 1968, and replaced by former Port Vale teammate Bill McGarry.
Allen took up the post of manager at Spanish club Athletic Bilbao in March 1969, leading Bilbao to a 1–0 victory over Elche CF in the 1969 Copa del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He also led Bilbao to runners-up spot in La Liga in 1969–70, as they finished one point behind Atlético Madrid. Under his only full season in charge of the "Lions", 1970–71, they finished fifth, eight points behind champions Valencia CF. He remained at the club until November 1971.
He was appointed manager at Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the three giants of Portuguese football, for the 1972–73 campaign. He was sacked before the end of the season due to a poor showing in the Primeira Liga – the club ended up in the fifth place, equalling their worst ever finish, despite the goalscoring form of Héctor Yazalde. Champions S.L. Benfica won 28 of their 30 league games. In spite their league form, new manager Mário Lino did lead Sporting to their ninth Taça de Portugal success, after defeating Vitória 3–2 at the Estádio Nacional.
He returned to the Midlands to take up the management reins at Walsall in July 1973. However he spent just six months in charge at Fellows Park. The "Sadders" finished the 1973–74 campaign fifteenth in the Third Division. He returned to West Bromwich Albion as a scouting advisor in January 1977, before being installed as manager six months later. He stepped down in December, to take up the financially lucrative post as advisor to the Saudi Arabia national football team. He returned to management in June 1980, this time at Greek club Panathinaikos. Again he enjoyed only a short reign, and was gone within six months. In his absence, the "Greens" finished fifth in the Superleague Greece.
He returned to the Hawthorns as manager again in July 1981, succeeding Ron Atkinson – who had just moved to Manchester United. Two of Albion's finest players, Remi Moses and Bryan Robson, soon joined Atkinson at Old Trafford and this had a negative effect on Albion's previously good league fortunes. Albion did well in the cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, although they suffered an early exit from the UEFA Cup. But Allen was unable to put together a good run of form in the First Division, and Albion only stayed up after winning their final game of the season. He then ended his managerial career in May 1982, choosing instead to work as the club's general manager. He stepped down from this post in June 1983, though continued to coach and scout for the club during his retirement, until 1996. He even played in a testimonial match at Cheltenham in 1995, at the age of 66.
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