HARRY REDKNAPP: MY DREAM JOB
I've been waiting for this opportunity all my life
HARRY REDKNAPP has finally fulfilled the dream he has cherished since taking his first managerial steps at Bournemouth.
He has been given the chance to prove himself at a big club. Not only that, the club he supported as a kid. And he's not about to fail.
"People think I was a West Ham fan as kid because I love that club," he confessed, "but it was Spurs I used to go and watch, they were the team I supported.
"Now I've been given an opportunity that I've waited for all my life.
Confidence
"Since I started as a manager, I've always craved working for a big club, a club with heritage and style - that's what Spurs have got.
"I want to put them back where they belong, up there with Arsenal.
"I'll be at White Hart Lane today, of course I will. I'll go into the dressing room before the match and say: 'Hey, fellas, let's go out there and win a football match.'
"It's all about confidence. I want to put that back in the players and give them the chance to show what they can do.
"There's fantastic players here and they deserve the opportunity to show what they can do.
"I'll do the job on my terms. If we're going to survive, then I'll do it as the manager.
"I've always wanted to be in charge. If I sign rubbish players then I'll get the stick for it but there will be my players, not some director of football's."
Redknapp, who will appoint Kevin Bond as his assistant, admitted it was a wrench to leave Portsmouth but could not resist the lure of White Hart Lane.
He said: "Of course it's tough to turn my back on Pompey because I love it there and I'm leaving behind some great friends. But how often do you get the chance to manage Spurs?
"When anybody says Spurs, I think of Bill Nicholson and the great Double-winning team of the Sixties.
"They played with style and that's what I want to bring back.
"It was a hard decision but Portsmouth have picked up £5million in compensation and I reckon that's a world record transfer fee for a manager.
"I hope that helps heal a bit of the pain they'll be feeling and I think they'll understand my reasons for leaving.
"I spoke to Clive Allen, who is Spurs through and through, and he just said: 'Harry, go for it, it's what you've been waiting for all your life.'
"And he's dead right, a fantastic club with a magnificent history, how could I say no?
"Yes, I've got a great life down in Dorset but that's not the be-all-and-end-all.
"I'll be moving back up to London because I want to devote everything to this job.
"Listen, I'm 61 years old, this probably won't come around again. When I turned Newcastle down, I thought I'd be at Pompey for life.
"I feel sorry for Juande Ramos, he did the best job he could do but it didn't work out for him.
"It's tough on the fella but it's happened to me in the past and you just have to accept it and move on. I know Spurs are in a dire position but I wouldn't be taking the job if I wasn't confident of turning things around.
Offer
"If I don't get it right and we're relegated, then I'll walk away. I'll hold my hands up and admit I wasn't up to the job, I won't hang around. But I don't think that's going to happen, there are too many good players for that."
Redknapp met with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy on Friday to discuss terms and asked for 24 hours to sleep on a decision.
He then contacted Levy to accept his offer and signed a £3million-a-year deal which takes him through to 2011.
As soon as Levy had his man, he dismissed Ramos with a £5m pay-off, along with sporting director Damian Comolli and the whole of the Tottenham backroom staff, including Gus Poyet.
It was a drastic move that came just a day before the anniversary of Martin Jol's exit from White Hart Lane.
Brilliantly
A Tottenham source said: "It was obvious something had to be done. Ramos was in a fog, he seemed utterly incapable of knowing what to do next."
Both David Bentley and Jonathan Woodgate had gone public with their criticisms in the last few days.
And our source added: "Ramos had lost the players, you could see that from the way they played against Stoke and Udinese. There was nothing there.
"He wasn't helped by the transfer policy and that's why Comolli has gone too. It needed an absolute clean sweep and that's what Daniel has done. The players were so down and uninspired and Ramos had nothing to offer.
"Harry is a completely different character, he's been in this position before and turned things around brilliantly and that's what's needed in the dressing room.
"He's lively, full of ideas and the kind of character who'll get into the players and lift them.
"Restoring confidence is essential because there are good players here, they just need somebody who can breathe life into the club again."
This article has 21 comments
go on my son we live once, do your best live with no regrets your a mans man,a doer a winner, some people say you are a sinner, i dont tho and thats no lie off to spurs and have a try if you succed and i think you will, then the rest off the country will say your brill. all the best HARRY,atrue football fan(the bigun, WWFC)
By mark meredith. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:40 PM.
You make me laugh Chris and Tom. Freddie we would never take Judus back. Harry has always been a Yid, his son too. Get a life managers are like players will always move for something better he left you because the Yids are better bottom yes so what must he think of you lot. Judus betrayed us, now you know how it feels. Remmember you got 5mil we got nothing. Why not put Adams in charge and Judus can carry his cross. A gonner through and through. Teach him the ropes then he can move on to something better. See you on the way up. Don't smile Defoe is coming home
By kenny davie. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:18 PM.
Great move by Spurs. I feel sorry for Poyet but am happy that Comolli has gone and unfortunately Ramos just seemed a tad lost in the English game - clueless even. None of us want to see Spurs changing Manager every 12 months but something had to be done to get us out of this slump. My only concern is what Harry will do with some proper money to spend in January as we all know he loves a deal.......hopefully he can find a player with a bit of backbone for the centre of our midfield and i am praying that he can see what the rest of us can - Jenas is a liability!!!!!We need a world class centreback, a defensive midfielder and 2 w/c strikers to replace Keano and that sulky sod from Bulgaria!
By Scott Cook. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:01 PM.
great move for spurs, people think its such a complicated game it aint,harry boy and family are eastend people who have passion and desire for success his direct approach and understanding of the game will bring the glory days back to spurs,good luck harry and all the best come on you lillywhites
By phil spiteri. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:39 PM.
Well,its over to you mr redknapp,
at last we have a english manager, who i belive can get us playing again. "KEEP IT CLEAN"
spurs all my life
come on you LILLY WHITES !
By DARIN TEDDER . Posted October 26 2008 at 1:00 PM.
just need a few wins thats all it takes hope we start our season today
By klr. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:06 PM.
I can't believe Harry Redknapp has chosen The Yids over The Irons.....he is such a dodgy geezer who doesn't have any loyalties!
Trelv is right...he will raid both West Ham and Pompey for the best players!
Harry is already declaring his undying love for The Yids and will no doubt be banging on Pompeys door again in 7 months time when Tottenham go down. The man has no shame and doesn't care what he says so long as he is **** ******* whoever is paying his wages at the time!
By JC Hammerette. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:06 AM.
Mr Redknapp u r not My Wenger and so don't even think u can match spurs to the MIGHTY ARSENAL. u r going down and down and down cos that is where u belong to. COME ON U GUNNERS!!!!!! we gunner gun u down!!!
By Peter. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:28 AM.
Dream Job!!!! wasn't scum your dream job, and West Ham, Oh and Pompey, The other week spurs were at Fratton park you said the way their fans treated Campbell was a disgrace, yet all of a sudden Spurs is your dream job!!!!!!!! Its all about money!! I loved Redknapp at Pompey but know i hope he fails at Spurs, then he'll walk away from them, begging for his old job back!!!!!!
By tom. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:27 AM.
I have been watching the spurs for for over thirty years and have never seen a spurs team as bad as this.
I am not Harrys biggest fan but if he can get them fighting i would be happy!. To loose with a fight is one thing but to go down with your head down is not on. Good luck Harry, My god your ganna need it!!!!!.
By steve. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:36 AM.
Its a great move, he obviously realises that there is more potential in Tottenham ladies than pompey and west ham put together. Thanks to those clubs for training him up for the job of his life. I am sure his experiences at those two clubs will help him. I expect him to make an immediate improvment. The IRONS would love to have him back, but they were not big enough to tempt him. Arry will probably raid both clubs for their best players as they are both skint, and we all know Defoe is a Spurs man
By trelv.. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:40 AM.
I used to think Harry Redknapp was the no 1 manager in the country and was West Ham through & through had a chance to go back there a couple of months ago , Spurs a big club DONT make me laugh, and it now makes you wonder if he come back to West Ham would he of stayed!!!!, I feel sorry for the Pompey fans ,Harry used to be my hero, that has now gone from the rating of 10 to 0!!, Spurs will still go down thats how bigger club they really are.
By chris gardner. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:49 AM.
I thought he loved Portsmouth? For some reason I have never been particularly taken by Mr Redknapp and this just proves me correct, in my opinion.
I don't feel sorry for players or managers in the Premiership -they make enough money whether they get sacked, sold or stay. It's the fans who lose out but they are so fickle themselves this day and age. How many full home matches does it take to pay off Mr Ramos and Co, plus compensation for Portsmouth?
By jon ward. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:47 AM.
and the spurs circus goes on !!
By mattgeeze. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:06 AM.
lets all leave pompey - top 8 side for bottom of the league spurs harry7 ur a ***
By luke pompey. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:00 AM.
I think bringing in harry wont be as good as martin jol, he was quality and the best manager of our decade... harry don't get me wrong you are good but not good enough for Tottenham..i love you harry but you will not succeed.
By wahid chaudhry. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:15 AM.
Bout time Tottenham got a West Ham reject! How sweet it would be if he took you down!
By ken harris. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:57 AM.
i never forgave judas for going down the road the first tie and here he is showin his true colors again. i hope he gets piles
By joe puttnam. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:06 AM.
i feel sorry for ramos but the position we are in he had to go but i thought they would give him the bolton game at least,i blame comoli for this mess signing players not up to the job just wasting loads of money,only good thing about spurs at the moment spurs arnt skint,hope harry can do it who knows?
By paulcj. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:34 AM.
What a liar Harry Redknapp is - he always said that his dad used to take him over The Arsenal.
I feel for the Pompey fans they deserve better than this!
Does this mean that Sol will return to the fickle fans at the Lane? lol
By Freddie. Posted October 26 2008 at 3:06 AM.
I am a Spurs fan, born and bred, Ramos had the quality to do the job but it would of took him a few years, but the prem ain't about time it's all about results. Well Harry is all about that, I met him in a bar down Bournmouth and what a gizza, he has time to chat to Mr No1... Heart on his sleeve m8, and you know what! That is what the THFC need, Come on Harry, show the Prem ya meen Business geez! You Are The Man To Take Us Forward.
"Harry's Blue And White Armyyyyy" Bring it on, Deano HotSpur x to the core...
By Dean Marlborough. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:37 AM.