Harry Redknapp not thinking about England job
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Your support makes all the difference.Harry Redknapp insists thoughts of becoming the next England manager could not be further from his mind as he embarks upon a new season with Tottenham tonight.
The Spurs boss has never hidden his desire to take on the manager's role with the Three Lions and the Football Association have hinted in the past that they would prefer an Englishman to take over from Fabio Capello after Euro 2012.
Redknapp's stock rose last year when he took Tottenham to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and his place as favourite to succeed Capello will be strengthened further if he achieves a top-four finish or wins silverware this term.
Despite this, Redknapp is not thinking about taking over from Capello right now and is instead choosing to focus on bringing Champions League football back to White Hart Lane.
"That's a year off and I'm happy at Tottenham," Redknapp said yesterday when quizzed about the England job.
"I want to build a team here that is going to be successful. I want to build a team that is going to keep doing well this year, next year and the year after."
Thanks to Saturday's match at Everton being postponed, Spurs begin their campaign at Hearts in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tonight.
The 64-year-old admits playing in the Europa League will be a step down after hosting the likes of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Real Madrid last season, but is determined to make it through to the group stage - where he plans to blood a number of youngsters.
Despite an injury crisis in midfield, Tottenham should still have enough quality to beat their Scottish opponents in what has been billed as a 'Battle of Britain' clash.
Hearts are currently eighth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after a turbulent start to the season which saw owner Vladimir Romanov sack manager Jim Jefferies after two league matches.
The Lithuanian has appointed eight permanent managers since he took over seven years ago.
Redknapp is a friend of Jefferies and cannot understand why the 60-year-old was dismissed.
"I have known Jim for years. He is a good character so I was very, very surprised. How do you sack someone after one or two games?" Redknapp said.
"People now react very quickly. They react to too many people's opinions outside the game.
"People change too quickly. The top clubs don't change. They have more stability."
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