Harry ‘The Twitch’ Redknapp – What he said and when

Harry Redknapp

Sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit and prepare to grin, smile then laugh outloud at a history of Harry Rednapp’s ’incredible’ managerial career in his own words.

This has been collated by @laythy29 top writer for The Inside Left, Sabotage Times, When Saturday Comes and now the pinnacle of his career 1ND2OU!

Take it away ‘Arry……….

“I supported Arsenal as a kid”

May 2004. After Arsenal won the Premier League as the “Invincibles”.

“I was a big Arsenal fan as a kid and I remember seeing Tom Finney play against Tommy Docherty one night at Highbury”.

Sept 2008.

“Growing up Spurs were 100 per cent my club”.

Oct 2008. On being appointed Tottenham manager.

“I have always followed Tottenham”.

Oct 2008. On being appointed Tottenham manager.

“I loved West Ham as a kid”.

August 1994. On being appointed West Ham manager.

“It’s in our favour to finish third now, Arsenal have got some tough games”.

April 2012. Arsenal finished third. Spurs failed to qualify for the Champions League.

“Everyone said I was the people’s choice to get the England job, the only choice. All the senior players seemed to be up for me to get the job. I got quite a few text messages at the time from players saying they would love me to manage England: Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry.”

Oct 2013. In his autobiography serialised in the Daily Mail this week, after being a Sun columnist for years.

“I’ve never even sent a text message. I write like a two-year old”

Feb 2012. During his court case for two counts of cheating the public revenue.

“I predicted Bale would be our Cristiano Ronaldo. I had always felt there was more to Gareth than left-back, or even left wing.”

Oct 2013.

“It is difficult to pick Bale at the moment.”

Oct 2008.

“I see Bale as a great left-back eventually.”

Dec 2008.

“I’m not looking for a left-back because you won’t get a better one than Gareth Bale.”

Dec 2009.

“If Bale’s going to be the best anywhere, I think it’ll be from left-back.”

Sept 2010.

“Personally I feel Bale’s best position will eventually be left-back.”

Oct 2010.

“In the long term I eventually see Gareth dropping back and playing at left-back where he can be one of the best, if not the best. That may sound a bit strange to some people at the moment, especially after the brilliant way he has played against Inter, and because we are very strong down the left side at the moment, especially with Benoit Assou Ekotto at left-back.”

Nov 2010.

“When I arrived he had played 25-26 times and had never been on the winning team and you began to wonder would Bale ever play on a winning team”

Nov 2010.

“Was I ever going to sell Bale? No. Was I going to loan him? No … I would never sell Gareth. It upsets me that people believe I was ready to ditch him.”

Oct 2013.

“It did go pretty close,” he says. “I know there were discussions between [Tottenham, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest]. The clubs had agreed the potential of the move. It was something we had to think about but he wanted to stay at Spurs. It probably got to the stage where it was Gareth’s decision. He made his mind up to stay and fight for his place.”

Clive Allen, who worked under Redknapp as part of his coaching staff at Spurs.

“This is a football club that has been put together by I don’t know who, and I don’t know how. It’s a mishmash of players with people playing where they want to play. It’s scary.”

Oct 2008. Redknapp on a Spurs team who had won the League Cup under Juande Ramos the season before.

“It is not a case of me looking for security. What it is about is players knowing you have only got a year left on your contract and knowing that it doesn’t work, basically. I think it’s a situation of, ‘well, he might not be here next year”

May 2012. Redknapp speaks of a new contract at Spurs.

“I didn’t sense the end was coming at Spurs, definitely not… ‘It was very sudden. I went to see him (Levy) about signing a new contract and that was it… It ended with me leaving. I don’t know why. I’ve no idea, not a clue. I’ve got my own feeling about what happened but it’s difficult for me to say. It was political.”

Oct 2013. Redknapp’s confusion on why a new contract was not forthcoming.

“Daniel Levy was the first person to ring me up to wish me luck when I took over at QPR, and even on the night I left Tottenham, the car phone rang and it was Daniel, ‘”Harry, let’s keep in touch,” he said. “I hope we can still be friends.” ‘I thought, “He’s got some front. He’s just sacked me and now he wants to be mates.”

’But we have stayed in touch. I’m not one for grudges.’

Oct 2013, on being sacked at Spurs.

“I don’t know how much I would have enjoyed the job as they now see it, spending time with the FA people or at Burton-on-Trent, where the new training centre is based.”

Oct 2013. Redknapp on whether he, as England manager, would have executed the FA’s long term strategy to develop young talent at St Georges Park, Burton-on-Trent.

“If I did get the offer to become England manager I’d have to consider the right thing to do but I’m focusing purely on Tottenham. I’m not going to leave them in the lurch.”

Spring 2012.

If I had become the England manager I would have taken Brendan Rodgers as my No 2.

Oct 2013.

“So when Tottenham played Swansea on April 1, 2012 I pulled Brendan after the game and said that if all the speculation about me and England was true would he consider being my part-time coach? I told him I wanted England to play with as much technical ambition as Swansea. He was up for it.

Oct 2013.

“Some Tottenham fans might think I was distracted from my club job, but I can assure you the conversation took five minutes.”

Oct 2013.

“I don’t think it will ever happen now… It saved me making a decision in all honesty because I’m very happy at Tottenham. I wish Roy all the best. I’m fed up of hearing my name mentioned now, I’m history. I’m not bothered… I don’t feel like anyone owes me anything.”

May 2012. Redknapp after Roy Hodgson was appointed England manager.

“I wouldn’t trust the FA to show me a good manager if their lives depended on it. How would they know? What clubs have they ever run? Who do they speak to who really knows the game? They are clueless”

“I’ll admit, I thought it was mine. Everyone seemed so certain, everyone I had met from all parts of the game seemed utterly convinced it was my job.

“Everyone said I was the people’s choice, the only choice. All the senior players seemed to be up for me to get the job.

“But the FA went for Roy Hodgson to be the England manager – a man who is more their cup of tea.

Oct 2013. On being overlooked for the England job. The ‘clueless’ FA Selection panel that chose Hodgson included ex West Ham legend Sir Trevor Brooking.

“I’m not one for grudges”

Oct 2013.

“There are a lot of players at QPR who earn far too much money. Far too much for their ability and what they give to the club… I don’t really want to see the owners have their pants taken down like they have in the past”

Jan 2012. A few days before breaking QPR’s transfer record twice, by first signing Loic Remi on £75k a week, then 29 year old Christopher Samba for £12 million and £100k a week which would have worked out at more than £20m in wages over four seasons. Had they not sold him in the summer for a loss.

“A lot of agents made money out of the club’s owners. I fined a player last week and he was earning more than any player earned at Tottenham. You shouldn’t be paying massive wages when you’ve got a stadium that holds 18,000 people.

Oct 2013. QPR’s current manager gives his view on transfers. Redknapp also signed Jemaine Jenas, Tal Ben Haim and Andros Townsend in that same Jan 2013 window. He also tried to buy in Scott Parker, Peter Odemwingie and Peter Crouch that month.

“Everyone goes on about Pompey being £35 million or £40 million in debt but that has nothing to do with me. That’s to do with the people who handle the finances at the club… If you can’t afford a player they shouldn’t buy him, should they?”

“That’s up to the chairman and the shareholders… That’s their decision to spend the money”

Jan 2010. Redknapp on the plight of Portsmouth FC. He managed Pompey from 2005-2008.

“Ruud Gullit was there and was carrying on right in front of me like a lunatic. Ruud was jumping around, cheering, singing. His behaviour was over the top.”

Oct 2013. On watching Chelsea win the Champions League Final 2012 with ex-Chelsea player and ex-Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit.

“I never walk in after games and complain about a referee but this guy is scary.”

Redknapp on referee Steve Tanner.

“I’m not one for grudges.”

Oct 2013.

“He don’t know what he is fucking talking about. What is he talking about? It is a bonus… there ain’t nothing crooked in it… What’s a bung? It’s a fucking sick word… I ain’t done nothing wrong … I ain’t done nothing wrong, Rob. I got paid a bonus … everyone is aware of it.”

Feb 2012. Harry Redknapp to The News of the World’s Rob Beasley when he called Redknapp to ask exactly what were Milan Mandaric’s payments to Redknapp’s offshore accounts.

“A friend said to me, he said ‘Harry, I can’t believe it’s always you, I have dealt with you enough times. Your problem is your name, Harry, and you have got a Cockney accent’. People don’t know me and I am sick and tired of it. There ain’t nobody who is more of a fan … My son has been a top footballer … I don’t care who looks, your people can look. Nobody will ever find anything on me. I don’t care who looks or how hard because there is nothing on me in this world.”

Feb 2012. Harry Redknapp on being found innocent of cheating the public revenue after Milan Mandaric paid £189,000 into a bank account that Redknapp flew to Monaco to set up in the name of his dog.