Harry Redknapp is not your run-of-the-mill football coach. The 64-year-old is as short a favourite as Black Caviar to become England’s manager, following the shock resignation of Fabio Capello.
But will Redknapp take the job?
Just maybe, but not until his commitments to Tottenham are completed this season, with Spurs in third place in the EPL standings and still in with an outside chance of winning the title.
“It’s impossible to serve two masters, and all my energy right now is devoted to Spurs,” explained Redknapp.
Loyalty throughout his 30-year coaching career is one of the major reasons why Redknapp isn’t run-of-the-mill.
Add flair, motivation, simple positive tactics, and always on the look-out for young talent, and you have a capsule of what makes Harry Redknapp tick.
According to the mass media in England, and a unanimous vote around the men that count in English football like Sir Alex Ferguson, Redknapp is the perfect choice.
The ultimate tick – he’s English.
So the call is out – “The nation needs you ‘Arry”.
He’s said he’d consider the offer, but what if he decides to stay put at White Hart Lane?
Arguably the best bet outside of Redknapp would be Jose Mourinho, born to win. He’s already won premierships in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain. There appears to be no limit to his ability, or capability.
But he’s not English, which is the current barometer, and he’s a genuine loose cannon the Football Association couldn’t cope with on a regular basis.
Dutchman Guus Hiddink owns a mighty impressive international CV having coached Holland, South Korea, the Socceroos, Russia, and Turkey. But he too can be difficult.
Northern Irishman Martin O’Neill would figure in any discussions. The former Celtic coach, always very popular with his players, is currently with Sunderland.
Roy Hodgson is English, and has coached Switzerland, UAE, and Finland, but he’s currently at West Brom lying 15th on the EPL ladder, and not frightening anybody.
But Alan Pardew is going great guns with Newcastle, currently fifth on the ladder, and only a point behind Chelsea. But he’s regarded as a lightweight in international discussions.
And that leaves Stuart Pearce, the current England under 21 coach who will step up to the plate to stop-gap coach England’s top side in the friendly against Holland this month. But Pearce is another Mourinho as a well-known loose cannon.
Interestingly, England’s next commitment after Holland won’t be until two weeks after the EPL finishes.
‘Arry might be ready to commit to the top job then.
Colin N
Guest
I would actually like to see Redknapp just in charge for the Euros and then see what happens after that. Having never had international experience, he might not enjoy the lack of day-to-day interaction with players. Personally, I would like to see Roy Hodgson thrown into the hat: international experience, I think would be respected by the players and likes to play good football. I do take into account his reign at Liverpool, but I think it's a classic case of Liverpool fans never actully wanting him in the first place. Has Dalglish really done better despite having incredible backing from the fans unlike Hodgson? His signings, too, have been average, desite having signigicantly more money to spend.
AndyMack
Guest
Pete, have to agree with Colin here. They were terrible during the WC. Capello quit due to an issue with the FA, nothing to do with the upcoming Euro's. Think the job is Harry's if he wants it. Think they might come to an agreement where they let Pearce look after the team for the friendly and then Harry takes over for the Euro's once the EPL season has finished. Spurs fans wont be happy, he has done wonders for them. Were in danger of relegation at one point, he has taken them to champions league football and contenders for the league.
acha5066
Guest
Mourinho hasn't won a premiership in Spain...yet. He just won the King's Cup.
Colin N
Guest
"The physical nature of the play, lack of a winter break, and the fact that England doesn’t produce players well suited to international football mean that they are going to lose." I fail to understand this notion of a winter break. You still have to play the same amount of games: either the season will be extended or you will have to play three games in a week more often, which coud lead to more injuries. Please tell what are its advantages? "Because they were beaten by Germany, and didn’t progress, he was pilloried." That whole World Cup was a disaster and whenever they faced a decent team, they tended to lose. Come on, can you honesty defend the performances against Algeria, Slovenia, USA and Germany - they were simply dreadful. "Who cares? England will be slaughtered anyway." Ironically, the only time England have been 'slaughtered' at a major tournament is under Capello. Funny that. Agree with the final sentence though. If I was Redknapp, I would stay at Spurs, but he has always suggested a desire to be England manager.
Pete
Guest
Who cares? England will be slaughtered anyway. Capello quit because he knew the players were not going to be up to it at the end of the premier league season. The English season is simply the most gruelling on the planet. The physical nature of the play, lack of a winter break, and the fact that England doesn't produce players well suited to international football mean that they are going to lose. People were too tough on Capello, he took the England team from being unable to qualify for Euro, to having the highest percentage of wins ever for an England coach (67%, higher than Alf Ramsey's 60%). Because they were beaten by Germany, and didn't progress, he was pilloried. He probably just looked at the situation in Euro, with terry causing disruption, Rooney out suspended, and thought he probably had better ways to spend his summer than deal with English media. Harry has never won anything of any note. They will give him the job because he's English, because they still have a superiority complex. England will hate him eventually when he doesn't win anything, then they'll move on to the next victim.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
'Loyalty throughout his 30-year coaching career is one of the major reasons why Redknapp isn’t run-of-the-mill' .... Being a hammers fan I've a bit of time for Redknapp - but really he's in it for himself - the whole Potsmouth / Southampton / Portsmouth saga displays loyalty isn't really in this blokes kit bag