Premier League - Redknapp 'risked career' on Spurs move

Eurosport - Thu, 15 Oct 17:25:00 2009

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits leaving Portsmouth for White Hart Lane nearly a year ago was the biggest managerial gamble of his career.

2008-2009 Tottenham Hotspur Harry Redknapp blows out his cheeks - 0

Redknapp was recruited to get Spurs out of relegation trouble but almost ended last season by qualifying for Europe, with his return to Fratton Park coming this weekend.

"They (Spurs) were bottom of the league and had I failed to turn things around it would probably have been the end of my career," said Redknapp in the League Managers' Association magazine The Manager.

"When I took over at Portsmouth for the first time it was a big challenge because, in all honesty, the club wasn't going anywhere at that point.

"Then I joined their rivals Southampton, which, looking back, was possibly crazy. And, of course, people also thought I was mad to return to Portsmouth when the club was bottom of the league.

"I really put my career on the line there, as I did when I joined Tottenham."

Since leaving the south coast Redknapp has brought Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar to join him in north London, and all three could feature this weekend.

"I'm particularly excited about what Niko can do here," said Defoe. "Niko is certainly one of those who you can see will impress, I'm convinced of that, and when you look at the reported money that we paid for him, you start thinking that he may turn out to be the bargain of the season. It was an incredible piece of business."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. And Michael, we're 3rd in the league, that's­ what we have to talk about. Not many teams can beat­ United or Chelsea, specially not Pompey.

    From Karl G, on Fri 16 Oct 1:18PM

  2. spurs is the right club for Redknapp he is a good­ manager

    From james, on Fri 16 Oct 11:47AM

  3. Harry was a "God" at Pompey, taking them from­ Championship obscurity to a healthy league position in­ the Premiership and an FA Cup success, and into Europe­ too, However with their ground capacity limitations­ there was always only going to be a limited amount he­ could achieve there.

    At Spurs he has a bigger club­ with more money, and fans who demand success, and­ therefore the pressure to succeed is far greater, plus­ he's just one more name in a long line of­ "High profile" managers.

    He may have secured­ his own financial future, but as to whether he's­ any more successful, when it comes to actually winning­ anything, only time will tell.

    Unfortunately, in­ recent years, history as proven that Spurs don't­ give managers that much time to achieve success and so­ by the end of next season at the latest, unless he­ achieves some significant trophies, I can see him­ joining the long list of "failed" spurs­ managers.

    From kim.whittaker, on Fri 16 Oct 11:19AM

  4. Harry's a great coach & done wonders for­ spurs,I hope he finishes his career at White Hart Lane.­ He is going to get some hassle at Fratton Park but­ probably half the team will as well. let's hope the­ spurs boys react and stick a bucket full of goals pass­ them. 4-0 the spurs looks good

    From paul.chap, on Fri 16 Oct 6:27AM

  5. blah blah blah. Play pav will ya mate!

    From elly, on Fri 16 Oct 2:12AM

  6. hey mart one word describes you MUG

    From christinemarshall347, on Fri 16 Oct 1:12AM

  7. @ Michael Yeah and Chelsea lost to Wigan... and­ Manure LUCKILY tied Sunderland.... What's your­ point???

    From keene010, on Fri 16 Oct 12:08AM

  8. To FrankB. Harry made such a big mistake joining­ Portsmouth that he did it twice! you muppet. He admits­ he made a mistake by joining Southampton when mandaric­ pi ssed him off, and then he said on his return to­ Fratton Park (admittedly a @#$% ground, but a better­ support and atmosphere than any of the new grounds),­ that 'this will be my last club i'll manage.­ I'm happy here'. One year later, he's off­ to Spurs, and to be fair he has done well there too.­ Thats loyalty for you, and I realise that financially­ we had to sell the players, which resulted in the­ comical takeover fiasco. He is a good manager, kept us­ in the Top 10 for a few seasons, we won the FA Cup, had­ a dabble in Europe, and he's doing the same for­ Spurs, but he won't get many welcomes on­ Saturday!!
    Play up Pompey

    From Simon L, on Thu 15 Oct 11:06PM

  9. lmao @ Mart hahaahahaha play us off the field my bum­ hahahaha wat a reta$d

    From Daryl S, on Thu 15 Oct 8:11PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ....bla bla bla bla and you failed to win ManU and­ Chelsea.What have you to talk about?

    From Michael, on Thu 15 Oct 7:10PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    come back to portsmouth do your magic again..bring Dos­ Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko.

    From Fahmi, on Thu 15 Oct 7:07PM

  12. Dodgy career? The man has worked miracles where ever he­ went. His biggest mistake was going to Portsmouth, a­ second rate club with second rate supporters combined­ with second rate board. Some club you've got­ sunshine. Your just a nasty, malicious boo boy, more­ boo than do, I reckon. Fratton Par? Sounds like a home­ for the elderly.

    From Frank B, on Thu 15 Oct 6:53PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    EEF YOU IS LOOKINS AT DA PICTURE, AH TINKS DIS HARRY­ MENS IS EATS TOO MUCH DINNERS...OR IS SMELL DA BADS­ FART...TAKES YOU PICK PLEASE

    From paddybuysumore, on Thu 15 Oct 6:51PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Your full of it redknapp, you have so much money it­ wouldnt have been a problem if it had have been the end­ of your dodgy career,
    We look forward to your return to­ fratton park and i hope the lads play your lot off the­ park.
    play up pompey.

    From Mart, on Thu 15 Oct 6:15PM
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