Harry Redknapp blasts FA, saying that they have not got a clue after he was overlooked for England job
So sure he would get the position he asked Brendan Rodgers to be his No 2
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Harry Redknapp has blasted the Football Association, claiming that the people who run the English game "haven’t got a clue" and couldn't "show him a new manager if his life depended on it".
The current Queens Park Rangers manager was the clear favourite for the England job last year, when Fabio Capello resigned, but the FA instead decided to appoint Roy Hodgson, who was then West Brom manager.
In the serialisation of his book in the Daily Mail, Redknapp, who was in charge of Tottenham at the time, admitted that he believed the reports as well, and was so sure he would become the national team’s manager he even asked Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager who was then Swansea boss, to be his assistant at Euro 2012.
"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?" Redknapp wrote.
"This isn't about them giving the England job to me or Roy Hodgson, but English football being run by people who really haven't got a clue. And they get to pick the England manager!"
"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.
"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.
"But the FA went for Roy Hodgson to be the England manager - a man who is more their cup of tea."
Redknapp was then sacked as Tottenham manager at the end of the 2011/12 season, and admits planning for the Euros with England while he was Spurs manager.
"If I had become the England manager I would have taken Brendan Rodgers as my No 2," he added.
"My thinking on Brendan was this: if he can do it with players from the lower leagues at Swansea what can he do with Rio and Terry or Rooney and Gerrard?
"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 coming to the European Championships in the summer as my part-time coach?
"I told him I wanted England to play with as much technical ambition as Swansea. He was up for it.
"Some Tottenham fans might think I was distracted from my club job, but I can assure you the conversation took five minutes. And we beat Swansea 3-1 that day, by the way.
"It didn't work out. On April 1, I was contemplating the way forward for England with Brendan Rodgers - and on April 29 the FA offered the job to Roy Hodgson.
"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.
"I went to a dinner and Gareth Southgate got me up on stage and interviewed me as if I were the next England manager.
"I began to think it was almost nailed on if I wanted it. And I did want it."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments