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  • Welcome to another edition of the transfer Talk Podcast on We are in the salubrious surroundings of sandbanks Harry Redknapp, the King of the Jungle The one and only Harry Redknapp is with us Thank you so much for welcoming us to your pleasure.

  • Hurry!

  • I know this is a special place in your heart is where it all began for you, didn't it?

  • Born with how special time was that for you?

  • Well, my charm a balm was amazing for me, you know, is my first I've gone to opt for City with Bobby Bobby Moore for a year Bobby always said to me if ever he got a job in management would like a moment ago and work with him.

  • So it's first job.

  • He should have had a much bigger job, Bobby because of what he was and who he was and how great he was.

  • But end up taking over opt for city, which was obviously nonleague Ishmael Only part time.

  • And so I went in and out the year with Bobby.

  • It's Oxford, hoping that we would move on into bigger and better things.

  • But it didn't work out on by left, then came here and my first coaching experience in league football was reborn.

  • If I came here with David Webb and Dave was a manager, Day was a great character.

  • Knew the game old school.

  • Probably like well, like I was really.

  • But I mean, you know, new players.

  • Nonleague got lot supplies in and I learned an awful lot from my time here with David.

  • We will be and eventually took over later on.

  • Became manager of a club on dad.

  • Nearly 10 years here.

  • You mentioned those 10 years after born with it was assistant manager at West.

  • And then you became manager West Ham United to be called Harry Redknapp, West Ham United manager.

  • What did that mean to you?

  • Yeah, it was great.

  • I mean, it was just funny And I've never you can honestly say I'm Noah over ambitious or a dreamer Ways people tell me about the England job and it's Yeah, I'm like if it happens, it happens.

  • You know, I'm I'm not one that sort would lose is any sleep butts and so obviously had to go back to tuck them part.

  • Obviously as well grew up.

  • I went there, left school at 14 and went the West End.

  • So Western was in my blood.

  • I mean, I went down a game with people like Bobby, Jeff Martin, Order great players.

  • It was a wrong Greenwood, an incredible football manager, a genius, really best football coach I've ever met.

  • And they were great times, you know, incredible times to be were released end or Essex boys.

  • We all came from within 10 mile, eight mile, probably radius in a football ground.

  • Most days, worked in the docks.

  • And, you know, my dad was a doctor there.

  • So many weird and wonderful stories throughout your whole of your managerial career.

  • This is your opportunity to separate the fact from the fiction.

  • I wanna watch you one story.

  • First of all, rewind back to 1994 and ah, Young Andrei Shevchenko, How close were you to signing him for West Ham United?

  • What happened?

  • Me and Frank Lampard Sr was my assistant.

  • He knew a couple of leads from his days in Frank was a canning town boy.

  • We got a phone call from a couple of lads.

  • We Frank, they were proper chapter on the East end, I think, you know, And they were doing lots of business in Russia and Ukraine and they said, Look, we we can get any pleasure You There were no foreign players here, so they said we said, Well, we don't know any plans in Ukraine it so we could get a couple over a couple of the best ones for you to have a look at.

  • So they sent two players over and we put fixed up a game with Barnet reserves.

  • John still was a manager bonnet and still he bought a team over a plate and we played and Shevchenko got two goals.

  • We liked him, but it was not a £1,000,000 which was I remember talking to Frank after me as too much money, you know, if it was only about 17 So I'm 18.

  • So we didn't take him.

  • But they did bring me a few years later, them guys, it is that Harry the judge.

  • I used to bring me up to give you some stick for not taking him, you know?

  • Wow, when you look back now, are you thinking that one that got away But one of many one of many I'm sure over the years one man that you did have in your school was a very young Frank Lampard.

  • Now there's a famous clip from a West Ham fans form in 1996 where you make a really, really staunch defense off Frank Lamb Part are scary.

  • If you think site the publicity's give young frank Nia currency because personally, I don't think he's quite could not be.

  • I think the last couple years you there's some good in the field is go for peanuts made.

  • Holland and Scott can, um, I'll tell you now.

  • You know, you can sit in front, release people, I tell you, without any shadow of a doubt, there will be no comparison with what Frank Lampard will achieve in football on what Scotty Cannon will achieve in football.

  • I don't give him the opportunity, you know, there is no favoritism.

  • In fact, I probably holding back more because I'll tell you what you know when he clearly wasn't ready.

  • Sure.

  • Yeah.

  • I don't think you did badly.

  • Ask No, I think you came into the side and I felt just a moment for the kid came into the side and they did Well, you know what I'm telling you now?

  • I know.

  • I know it might be.

  • Now do you want to say this in front of him?

  • But he will go right to the very top, right to the very top.

  • Hey, all you had it.

  • Can I tell you there ain't no doubt about that?

  • In my opinion, you know, because he's got everything that's needed to become a top class midfield player is that he chewed his first class.

  • He's got strength, He complained.

  • You can pass it and he could score goals.

  • What you said about him, he was certainly right about Frank Lampard.

  • What set him apart?

  • It was the best professional.

  • I've never seen anyone, anyone?

  • The only person I've ever seen train like him was he stayed.

  • If I would go back to his days, remember being in the dressing room?

  • I'll consider it now when the home dressing room at West and Frank's about 18.

  • Wrong.

  • Greenwood came in a set of Frank Sr.

  • Look, I'll fix you up.

  • They got a talking on loan.

  • Frank's got talking.

  • I want to play for West Ham.

  • Why?

  • Don't want got it, Okay, He said it would be good experience for you, and if you do what they might take here.

  • Franklin on plan on a plate.

  • Understand What's wrong with me?

  • You never tell me what's wrong with me.

  • So what?

  • You're not quick enough, Frank.

  • You know, you're like a pace.

  • And for actually, no, I'm not going to say I'll show you.

  • And every day got the spikes.

  • He came in books from spikes every day.

  • Did it sprints every day after training, go out taking spikes on his own.

  • It's been ages runnin, clipping balls, doing different every day, every afternoon.

  • And he just made himself to become a great left back for 20 years for West Ham, and the boy was exactly the same.

  • He trained like no one had ever seen it be at the I look at my window on the training ground four o'clock in the afternoon and you see someone like 200 yards Well, for some of the climb that would offense on was, you know, doing sprints and shooting with a bag of balls.

  • And it was Frank would be out there and he rubbed off.

  • He was a great influence because the way he trained, I think on Rio and they have a little group.

  • Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cold.

  • L saw Frank and that I think it had a big influence on the way they trained as well.

  • But Frank was he was a class apart from anybody when it came to dedication.

  • Wanna be a player on?

  • But the effort you put into it, it was just amazing.

  • He made himself yet salad, obviously.

  • But he made himself into a fantastic football.

  • We'll come to some of those other place in just a moment.

  • But one of the most eye catching you have to say in controversial transfers that you made at West Ham was the one and only power to Kanye.

  • Yeah.

  • Yeah.

  • He said that you saved him.

  • How did you get what you might save me?

  • Well, sure.

  • How did How did you get it meant how much resistance was there from the West Ham?

  • Bollocks.

  • You remember gonna Terry Brown, the chairman?

  • We needed a plan, and I said Terry and I said, Look, you know, we needed He said, Yeah, he calls, Let's get someone in.

  • You know, you need somebody who could.

  • So someone has to take Paolo Di Canio, remember?

  • He put his head in old knees, crawling on their own.

  • Now anybody but him.

  • You know, it pushed the referee Mr Walcott over.

  • And so Yeah, he didn't.

  • I don't We saw him being as being a good idea, but it became a problem.

  • Was itchy.

  • I loved him.

  • I used to watch him play when it was Celtic.

  • It was like a little kid in the playground he wanted take corners, free kicks everything right and get the born Andi witness Sheffield Wednesday.

  • And when we've got a Sheffield, Wednesday goes to just say to the players in the West and team anywhere in that final third latch on nearest man.

  • Mark him just marking throw ins.

  • Whatever.

  • Don't let him pick the ball up in that final foot because he could just do something special on.

  • So when he became available, Yeah, that was it was key for me to try to get him and Duchess for he can change things.

  • It was a gamble.

  • Remember reading a Sunday newspaper from a well known journalist who said that I was walking a tight rope with no safety net under me?

  • Signing to Kenya for one in a £1,000,000 I don't see that being a risk.

  • I think it's very, very cheap and I think it's a great by in my opinion and if it was a very talented player.

  • Theo.

  • But he was an amazing signing.

  • The fans loved him.

  • Quite rightfully, rightly so.

  • You stick to every ability was incredible.

  • He looked after himself, was in great shape.

  • He trained well at the right foods, didn't drink.

  • He said that his life was at rock bottom.

  • His career was at rock bottom.

  • After what happened wing with the referee or cock.

  • I moved with them and not in a normal way like it happened.

  • Toe enables toe a similar on a similar to Celtic.

  • The worst moment off my life career.

  • Move together because I link that to thinks.

  • Did he need convincing?

  • And what did you have to say to him?

  • No, I think you know what I just said.

  • What I said to lots of Plus I saw it.

  • I just I love him.

  • I said I loved what you play.

  • I love you.

  • Ability.

  • The West David feigns love good players.

  • They'll absolutely love you.

  • You know, you come the West Ham.

  • You're gonna be you beast.

  • You know the fans would absolutely love.

  • People complain of ability.

  • They recognize that the West Ham supporters You'll be a massive favorite, a club.

  • And I think you can.

  • You know, I'm your biggest fan, so I want you to come and play for me.

  • You have that reputation off being one of the best man managers, that there's Bean in the game.

  • Is that something that has come naturally to you that you've learned or it's just something off the cuff.

  • A well done, in my opinion, is we'll get your much further than what you know usually.

  • So whatever.

  • I'm not one for that.

  • I think people keep telling you what you can't do.

  • You believe you won't do it.

  • People.

  • Encouragement is nothing like you were brilliant today before game.

  • You know, I used to go to Blue, could get the ball moderates running the game.

  • They can't get near you, you know, Just keep getting on the ball.

  • Makers and people love it, Don't know, you know, And I think that's always been more of my way.

  • You know, Joe Cole on people like that, you know, maybe job in Fort Wayne 15 inside joke job we could do with you in the first team tomorrow.

  • You know, you're that good and we'll love it.

  • We all love a pat on the back.

  • You touched on the various place that you had come real offer.

  • Listen, I'll miss them out.

  • Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick.

  • Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe.

  • Glen Johnson.

  • Had you kept that squad together?

  • Are we talking about West Ham United challenging?

  • Oh, yeah, for time for sure for sure.

  • Yeah.

  • 1st 1 once we sold Rio, that was, you know, a big real not to go.

  • He leads came in enough it.

  • 18 million, I think the chairman at the time, I think he felt that there would be no more big transfers because the Bosman ruling was coming in.

  • Every he felt all players then would just play let their contracts right now and just be free agent so there would be no transfer market.

  • That's how we saw it going off.

  • When he got the offer of a 1,000,000 for Rio, he felt he couldn't turn it down.

  • You remember getting Rio in my office.

  • You know Frank Sr and say, Look, don't go.

  • Really done got leads.

  • Give us another couple of years here.

  • You know, you can always go to lead.

  • You know, he's got a man united or somewhere.

  • But, you know, I think he had other people pushing him into going.

  • But, you know, I felt Leeds wasn't removed from that time off West and was still his club to be at.

  • Um if you could give us another couple of years off it, we could have, say, pushed on to become a real force.

  • Joe was coming through carrying Michael Carrick.

  • That little group.

  • Suddenly, as you say, six kids.

  • I mean, even if you have a fiver after East and you're gonna have a good team and way had five other good players around as well at the time.

  • So I felt the future at that stage for West Ham look fantastic.

  • It was exciting for me, O scope, every youth game.

  • I never missed a game when the kids were playing.

  • I just got a chap relief for the home games.

  • On Saturday morning, I watched the first ar 15 minutes.

  • Second off, get my car, go to Upton Park for the guy first team game.

  • When everywhere me and Frank senior year with the youth team of that over that couple of years old, him away in the Youth Cup, up to ever turn different.

  • Whether the boys were playing, we were there because I knew that was the future of the football club, and it was so exciting to have them kids.

  • Tony Car, Peter Bray Brooke, who worked with the kids, have done an amazing job in, you know, getting the kids in.

  • Jimmy Hampson bought the kids into the club, and suddenly it was like gold dust.

  • When you get six kids west and we're gone 11 years, probably that really producing a player that really establish itself.

  • I mean Kati in Stevie Pots, there have probably been the last ones.

  • Then there was this big void where we have players perhaps coming played a few games here games, but no, not to money really established itself was top players, and they're suddenly we had six of them come along at once.

  • It was just amazing, exciting feeling to be part of that.

  • After seven years as manager ended for you, Wes time.

  • Can you recall what happened?

  • How you felt at the time when you parted ways.

  • So I was choked.

  • Yeah, absolutely.

  • Yeah.

  • I mean, it was about the size of new four year contract.

  • You know, the Germans drive me mad to sign the new contract.

  • I wasn't rushing to do it because of what is No, I ain't going nowhere.

  • You know, things are good here.

  • I love it on Gemma was greatly me at the time.

  • I don't know.

  • People you know I didn't interview were fanzine.

  • And I don't know, I think maybe I said one of two things that, uh, about the chairman, Whatever.

  • Whether that was I don't know.

  • But if I, you know, looking back on, it was a silly thing that I did.

  • But I sat talking to a fanzine like I was chatting to you.

  • Now, obviously, all got printed, and I think Terry wasn't wasn't happy with it, so Yeah, but that was a harsh lesson.

  • Keep your mouth shut.

  • Well, when you look back now, is that a regret?

  • Of course.

  • Absolutely.

  • I mean, my time there.

  • I loved it.

  • It was great.

  • And all them kids were just beginning to come through, so yeah, but but losing Rio was was the first really sent out the wrong signals to the other kids.

  • Um, so, yeah, it was a shame out finished, you know?

  • But I had a great time there, and I don't have any any.

  • Don't hold any grudges towards anybody's life.

  • There's one door closes, another one opens.

  • And that door is a sportsman.

  • Yeah, You got there.

  • Is Director did year?

  • Was it always the intention?

  • No, I'm gonna be a No.

  • No.

  • I never wanted to be honest when I went to port, sir, if I had no intention of manage import some of it's all it wasn't a who have been disrespectful.

  • It wasn't a club that was.

  • Was your mom want a gun?

  • Manage.

  • You know, Porter, for a struggling team that struggled in the bottom five or six of the championship every year.

  • Just about Mr ST stayed up last game of the season on a went there 1,000,000 Ahmet Milan Mandaric anew Malene from his days in America was when I was at Seattle.

  • He was probably the biggest owner in America.

  • Anyway, you became a book, Portsmouth.

  • In fact, when he bought Portsmouth, I was man Jim West Ham.

  • I took her team down there to play in a testimonial from one of the staff there at the end of the season, met Milan.

  • He was looking at the club at the time.

  • I met him after the game and we had a chat about America and he said I'm thinking about buying this club.

  • What do you think?

  • I said, Well, this is amazing football.

  • It's one of the great historical football clubs in England, you know, after the war that Jimmy Dickinson era, they won titles.

  • They were it was a real big club.

  • Great.

  • The fans here, amazing old stadium.

  • But everybody lives important support.

  • Sportsman, I said.

  • I think it would potentially is here.

  • What?

  • Obviously it was great.

  • He saved the club Onda.

  • Companies like wind up going there to work with him.

  • But now I had no real impact on the club.

  • I was drawing to a football, but it wasn't like we weren't bringing into money.

  • Pleasantly sawing Crouchie.

  • Graham Rix was a major ground was very good, good coach, you know, But it was already didn't have the players and Milan was quite hard to work with.

  • I think for Grandma thinking Milan was quite after a game.

  • I used to disappear and go on because I think he would equal get quite upset about things where if it didn't work out eventually, But in the end of the season, I would look and there was a button for whatever again, and he asked me to take the team to the end of the year.

  • Graeme Wood left in that video.

  • Somebody I'll do it in the season, but I didn't see no intention of staying longer than that at that time.

  • But we made it just about stay up.

  • And then the following year, you know, I turned the Leicester job down or when I met John, uh, John Nelson said the German Lester.

  • He offered me the job during the season, but I turned it down.

  • Um, really be honest.

  • It was, you know, I didn't want to move home.

  • It was like, I know it's lacking ambition or whatever, but also set where we live family here, Um, I saw travel off.

  • What would Lester is a bit of a slap for me all the time.

  • I don't wanna be away from home all week, and I decided not to take it off and see what else comes up.

  • But in the end, Milan convinced me at the end of the season to have a go at Portsmouth took it.

  • And but first Susan, we won the championship, which was an amazing are for looking back on.

  • It was quite amazing, really picked up a few players on free transfers.

  • Ari and a zoo was amazing men, but probably the biggest sign in that turned the club around single and Lee was Paul Merson.

  • I took pull.

  • Merced must come in and he was on a different planet to anybody else in the league.

  • He lifted all replies at the club.

  • They suddenly their game lifted.

  • When he walked in the door and off we went.

  • We went off from day one, went on a round of winning.

  • Merson was pulling all the strings and making things happen, scoring goals, making goals.

  • And it was amazing time I had such a but my best Sinan apart.

  • Merce would have been Jim Smith about Jim Smith in with me, the old bald eagle.

  • Jim had been Mandarin Portland previously, and Jim came to work with me about Kevin bonding, Joe Jordan and We had a great team.

  • We laughed.

  • We went on a run of winning games, and it was a great time for me.

  • It was just amazing.

  • Every day was for to get up every morning.

  • Kind of worker.

  • Portsmouth, You mentioned the likes of Mercy and Steve Stone as well.

  • Stony.

  • Go up.

  • And then when you're in the Premier League, the likes of sharing them, and not yet.

  • But I'll keep you in.

  • Yeah, yeah.

  • Did you make a conscious effort to go for that More experienced?

  • Yeah.

  • We're good players.

  • I mean, I look now even now LA in the summer offering If I was a manager, first power Gan sign will be Gary Kale.

  • How is no one snapping Gary Kale?

  • He's got to be moving ever and earth to get him.

  • It was my child assigning, You know, that I took it.

  • Then Harry Bellamy's I came in as director of football of Portsmouth.

  • Coincidentally seemed to turn a bit south for you, the way you came in, To be truthful of it, Milan was looking the shift.

  • Jim Smith.

  • It's off.

  • I don't know.

  • Yeah, he had this thing with Jim and he wanted me to let Jim you want to make a change and not keep Jim and Jim was massive to me.

  • He was a big part of what I was doing there.

  • You know, um, and I was driving home.

  • I left Malene.

  • I got a phone call from a reporter.

  • Seo, Everybody here.

  • You got a director of football coming tomorrow and zay it.

  • You know, I said I remember it was a play was a great player, but no, I've never met him.

  • I don't know him.

  • I said no.

  • No one's coming in here, so I run with that and he said I should probably sherry and hope.

  • And next morning walked in.

  • He was there.

  • So what would he say?

  • Really?

  • Well, you know, this wasn't in the plane, so Yeah, we had a bit of a bust up when I left.

  • You obviously wanted the quiet life, Harry, because you went to Southampton next?

  • Yeah, that was a clever move.

  • Did you genuinely go into that role fully knowing the none of abuse you were going?

  • No, no, no.

  • What happened?

  • I left port.

  • Some of their at their argument with Milan walked out.

  • Jim, Jim was gone, Kevin.

  • Now it'll go on.

  • And two weeks later, a $10.

  • Now it wasn't very long.

  • I got a phone call asking me if I would go to seventh.

  • And so, you know, Well, I haven't done nothing wrong in my eyes at Portsmouth.

  • So it's on the doorstep.

  • Good club.

  • Why shouldn't I go?

  • And I took It was a great opportunity, so I went there.

  • But no, I didn't realize, to be honest, the hatred between the two clubs.

  • I mean, it was scary.

  • It really was my first at Southampton off.

  • Never forget.

  • I'm driving to the training ground and it's sort of march would and went.

  • We can't a little T junction where yet to stop on the grounds it down.

  • And as I stopped, there was a some guys digging the road doing the and then from Portsmouth.

  • And you don't know you were in Palm people.

  • He's a promise you They were digging the roads on the row on Big Judas was calling me all kinds of name Dr.

  • On There they're kept me down.

  • They would every day, every day I pulled up.

  • They were there.

  • It was like winning the polls were moaning coming on when they had finished their work and gone Never.

  • Oh, my God.

  • Thank God.

  • So, yeah, it was difficult.

  • When you look back on that time because of the abuse.

  • You got the whole South Hampton world relegated.

  • Is that a regret that you went there?

  • Well, it is, I suppose.

  • But if I was, you know, and you know what went herself?

  • And then when I look back on it, I was talking to someone yesterday, actually, and I know we all got well, we were lucky we had the unlucky.

  • When I looked at, the fixtures were played.

  • Every team in the bottom half the league home and all the old pictures that we had left when I went there were against top off teams.

  • Well, we play some fantastic stuff.

  • We beat you.

  • We beat Liverpool.

  • We drew.

  • We've asked her when we had 10 member David Pratt and got sent off.

  • We beat Tottenham.

  • We place.

  • Um, we ended up to one up against two, went up against ever and played Unbelievable.

  • That son, it was a live game.

  • One sky on the last second again crowd.

  • You taking the ball down.

  • The court decides to cross it instead of just keeping and get if we get a corner game.

  • He crossed it.

  • A goal keeper.

  • Call it kicked up the field.

  • Duncan Fergus inflicted on and center fort here.

  • Volley into the top corner on the ref.

  • Blew the whistle.

  • Them two points.

  • Middlesborough at home with Tune you up.

  • I'm about to make a substitution.

  • To what?

  • To finish the game.

  • The full for official, up three minutes on the bull with two new up free minutes to go I've got a corner for I can't change it When I've got a corner The corner comes in Danny Egan Bomb goes to headed Scoots off his head into the file corner to one they kick off and within 10 seconds of kicking off Stuart down is hit one for yards.

  • And that's too, too.

  • And that was them.

  • Free points keeper somebody And it was just amazing out when it was like fate, you know?

  • But the Pompey fans, obviously they haven't named for was Special Agent Harry Got the seventh and to get really gate and go better porcelain.

  • But no, it wasn't the case, but you did go back to pull.

  • I went back.

  • Yeah.

  • What happened there?

  • A gay nine spoke to Malene would fallen out and, you know, and they were struggling.

  • All the good players.

  • I had it all got being got rid of that, bought a really bad lot of players.

  • And I mean, I don't know where they found that mob from and they were bottom of the league.

  • And suddenly Frank Lampard senior goes to watch Young Frank Platt chose against Portsmouth portion of Pete and for Neil.

  • So after the game, Franks gets invited into the board room.

  • Frank Sr on Blaine came over so low to him and Franks.

  • Are you struggling, Milana?

  • You hated year.

  • We're going to get really Gate were useless, you know.

  • So Frank said should bring Harry back.

  • I said, hurry doesn't write me and he won't come back.

  • Now, you We're not friends anymore, but they love him here.

  • But what?

  • You don't know what you are.

  • You should say that.

  • Frank.

  • Will you ask him?

  • Afraid?

  • Run me that.

  • Not on the way.

  • Home Secretary wants you to go back there.

  • Would you go see?

  • I'll go ago.

  • I love it.

  • doubly trying, you know?

  • Anyway, next thing I know, um, strictly against the rules.

  • I know, but I'm having a meeting with the land is flat and come wolf key and, ah, next morning Yeah, it sort of came on the set and I was gone back.

  • A policeman walked into a terrible, terrible, terrible team are mean, awful.

  • They were stuck at the bottom of the league and my first games I've got last in Villa That of fans now from loving me when I was there.

  • Absolutely others like it was amazing time in my life.

  • Now they've got the even I've come back.

  • If things don't go well, I'm in big trouble.

  • We get beat up, Vila, I'm walking off.

  • The fans are in the corner there giving me dog's abuse, Pompey fans now because a lot more got the ump again because you know But we turned it round.

  • We turned around.

  • We went I got one or two apple in took free plus and top them.

  • Pedro Mendez.

  • Shawn Davis Know you, Pamarot?

  • We did what we did You a special Daniel Levy deal.

  • Buy one.

  • Get one free so that you'll let us We went top.

  • I was actually trying to get down.

  • And but Durham get the time.

  • Darren, An amazing contract.

  • There were no one he wanted to come back to.

  • Pompey was a Pompey boy.

  • It had been amazing.

  • He was a great player.

  • But I think Darrin had a contract when no one could earn more than a match up then.

  • So his wages were definitely at a window.

  • So end up saying he never free leads and they came in, did a great job for me.

  • And I took a little lead from from a little Argentinean boy or took to West Ham on trial.

  • Watched him play fighting the Argentinian under 19 team Fulham.

  • Could D'Alessandro?

  • He was a genius and number 10 a genius.

  • What a footballer!

  • On and off we went.

  • We went on a run of winning.

  • Winning you are You are was incredible for me.

  • Scoring goals.

  • We stayed up.

  • Then can the investment When Alexandre Gaydamak took over part of the club and some of the names David James, Soul Campbell, Lauren, Andy Cole, Salomon Tory, Lassana Diarra on a favor of yours.

  • Jermain Defoe Yeah, at Portsmouth Scene anything like this, I know you have the experience before.

  • But what?

  • Milan Windmill Lane run ovary, trite ship may run a tight ship, and suddenly we're a new owner.

  • He walked in.

  • I'll be honest with you.

  • He came in when I was first.

  • Went back to port before I didn't know that he was gonna come and I went back with Elaine.

  • And then suddenly Milana sold the club and I didn't know anything about that.

  • You know, I'll be honest.

  • At that time I went back.

  • Really be with Malena.

  • I knew him and he knew me.

  • We had ups and downs, but we And suddenly I've got a new owner coming.

  • He came to me after the second game when I've gone back with that useless team and Ah, you want to see me?

  • Didn't know I didn't know him.

  • And he said to me, Tell me, Mr Red, now, why did a play where they play is not trying.

  • What do you mean?

  • They're not trying?

  • He said that?

  • What?

  • What?

  • Don't they try?

  • I said they're trying.

  • There's just no good.

  • They're not good enough.

  • I said you bought a load of rubbish supplies and even our distance So I left and I know you know good enough.

  • They were They are because that's what they are.

  • Things different standards in football, that lot.

  • There are bottom championship players.

  • No way enough for one night.

  • They last long here with him, but he came in.

  • Then I got me a minute.

  • You want to meet me in Israel for a meeting?

  • I went over and that's when you know, at that time even it was like touch and go where I was going to stay because I didn't have a real relationship with him.

  • You know, it was difficult.

  • But then, you know, they said, Look, is Richard and Abramovich family?

  • Apparently a mega rich is five rounds every fit Neri's to own in Israel, younger team in France or something.

  • But they are the family or like up there with Roman Abramovich and he wanted to bring players in, you know, good players.

  • And that's what we did.

  • We went out, but when people look back and the gold up Maneater was, you go through toe, go fruitful and look it carefully.

  • Lassana Diarra came for former £4 million yet get out clause Arsenal on.

  • We saw that they sold him for 20 odd 1,000,000 to Real Madrid.

  • Um, people like Silver and Disdain came with a free from man.

  • See, we sold in £6 million to Everton.

  • Eso Campbell came on took up in 1/4 of his wages.

  • It was only an arsenal.

  • It left Arsenal soul and he was fell out of love with football.

  • Didn't want to play anymore.

  • I convince him to play football again.

  • It won't that off time.

  • Our snow?

  • Yeah.

  • And so the money was irrelevant.

  • Eating care about people for always.

  • Getting this didn't care about money wasn't an issue.

  • It was It was gonna come back.

  • Could I'll convince him to play.

  • I couldn't offer him any sort of big deals, but he wanted to play football again.

  • And that's what we had convinced him on when he came.

  • It was incredible, but the whole group would like that.

  • They were so people that owe you stay spent all this money on these players.

  • David James came in again.

  • Jamie, it was we give a £1,000,000 for J.

  • Maybe suddenly signed the best goalkeeper in England, in my opinion, you know so But people better.

  • Well, with all that, it wasn't a case on me.

  • I don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

  • This club was run by Mr Guide to make what he done with the money or with, um I don't know, it was not my big butt.

  • We built a fantastic team.

  • Surely Mokhtari sold in the millions.

  • Players were when we didn't want Germany, we pull into.

  • We didn't make a profit on Defoe.

  • One of your kind of phone calls.

  • He arrived, but it kind of required, didn't it, Ben?

  • Johnny to leave for Manchester City.

  • Now, that was easier said than done, wasn't it?

  • Yeah.

  • Well, Bend, you didn't want to go to man.

  • See, he was very happy at Portsmouth, but we got a crazy offer from firms Men City.

  • So you are driving to the airport.

  • Push him on the runway.

  • He wasn't too okay in about two hours later, when around hadn't arrived dimensions.

  • So I run his mobile and he was still sitting at the airport.

  • We didn't get on the plane, so I said, Wait there, Benjamin.

  • Coming.

  • Don't worry.

  • Wait there, please.

  • Drug to the important it was one more playing now managed drag him across the runway and getting on the plane to get the deal.

  • Well, we needed the money because this was tight to deadline.

  • It was he got there about one o'clock in the morning.

  • But I think some Eddie somewhere they got it through.

  • I don't know how Goodness me.

  • Car knew there was another big name toe around.

  • I mean, what's the story of how you you know what happened?

  • We can't who he was.

  • He won't play a knee deep in the West from the year before first gamma.

  • This season, we're playing Blackburn Rovers at home.

  • We haven't got a fit striker on the books.

  • Not one Everybody was arranging or suspended.

  • So I set the Tony Adams.

  • I think that what about We're looking through the rotten ones.

  • But I said, What about Kano?

  • Anyway?

  • We keep looking, can't find anybody.

  • Eventually, I'll run him up.

  • What you're gonna do, King?

  • They're gonna He said you don't want to play Gaffar symbol.

  • I wantto bring it a Portsmouth, you know?

  • Sure.

  • I'd love to come.

  • I said, Well, come down tonight, Sunday and tomorrow way.

  • Give a a fitness.

  • Uh, have your medical on our Sonia.

  • I need you a set against Blackburn and we came down.

  • Tony wasn't convinced, so we had a reserved and that they find enough.

  • Cardiff.

  • So I said to him, Look, playing the game I said It's not a trial, This is just for get you fit for Saturday.

  • To be honest, it was if it had been no good off, it would have felt him when he's made a course on it, you know, out of it.

  • But he played in the game, scored two goals and he was amazing on the Saturday made his debut against Blackburn.

  • First camera season.

  • They were a good team, Blackburn that sign and he scored another two goals and Mr Penalty on the he went.

  • We went the Middlesbrough in the mid wait.

  • You got another two goals and he never looked back.

  • He was still playing about five years later, scored the winning going this semifinal when they finally the F A Cup for me.

  • What a football!

  • It was a genius, one of the world.

  • He was a great great footballer, unbelievable ability, six foot four at a touch and skill that I've never seen it was What a great lead.

  • Great guy you say?

  • What player?

  • I mean, he was instrumental when I guess Portsmouth's greatest day and you led them to the F A cup.

  • Yeah, it is great that anything ever come close to that in your career.

  • Well, it was a great day, but yeah, I mean, get important.

  • Promoted that first year for me was always special.

  • To cut wind was special, keep important.

  • But when I went back, that was make or break for me.

  • If they stayed up, I was in massive trouble.

  • So that was a great day.

  • But you have a days, you know, other times that, you know, with great, you know, even even West.

  • And we finished fifth in the premier as the highest position have ever finished in the Premier League.

  • I mean, that was great.

  • And we played great football in my time at West and helped to produce him great players.

  • So that was a great time for me.

  • You know, following season, you're still a Portsmouth.

  • You're happy at Portsmouth?

  • Yeah.

  • Then in North London, Tottenham sat one day.

  • Ramos, When did you hear that?

  • They that they wanted you and How big a wrench was it to leave?

  • We'll have to be truthful.

  • I had a meeting with Daniel Levy 18 months earlier.

  • You're familiar?

  • Job 18 months earlier, I made him his house and Dan, you asked me to go there then, but I didn't know at that time I was very happy at Portsmouth.

  • Things were going great for me and I turned the Newcastle job down as well.

  • Mike Ashley offered me the job.

  • We're great off a great club.

  • Newcastle.

  • But my life was so good at Portsmouth.

  • I didn't want to leave.

  • I just loved every minute much.

  • I'm there, you know.

  • But they're no.

  • We played in Braga, Uh, on the first night in the European Cup with Portsmouth got in the coach and the next day, and it was a phone call and chop them, asking me would've gone meet Daniel.

  • That Noi, um, went there, but again, or still a cz greater clubs.

  • Tottenham was My life was so good at Portsmouth.

  • Um, I really wasn't even looking looking to leave, you know?

  • But I went there and met Daniel and, you know Yeah.

  • Oh, careful.

  • Maybe I'm never going to get an opportunity again like this, you know?

  • And they were stuck at the bottom.

  • That had a terrible start and I took the job appeal to see Daniel Daniel, can we leave it to you after the weekend?

  • He said No, we got Boeing on Sunday.

  • We're part of the league, Two points.

  • Hey said I need you in place there a needle in a dugout, I said.

  • But on Monday I'm getting the freedom to sit your Portsmouth and anyway, he said I can't You've got We need your Sunday So I took it.

  • We won the game on Sunday.

  • On Monday I go back a portion of get the freedom of C, which wasn't great timing, having just left on the society.

  • So um, that was a difficult way have have it's difficult.

  • I got up and I said My time has never been that good really, And but the people don't mean it was amazing.

  • It was one of two people in the up in the gallery weren't too happy with me, but arrest everybody else was amazing.

  • When you join Tottenham two points from eight games, I'm sure you couldn't believe that they were in that position given squad they had.

  • But you improved that squad in January.

  • How important was it to bring back the likes of Jermain Defoe and Andrabi King?

  • They knew the club never great players I was bringing implies.

  • I knew always getting There's nothing like taking people that you know you work with being somewhere.

  • And you, Robbie came, was infectious.

  • He was a great footballer.

  • He was intelligent.

  • He knew the game.

  • He was just buzz about.

  • Just like I used to love what you Robbie player for He was always on the move.

  • Jemaine was a goalscorer.

  • Great goal school assigned him as a as a little boy.

  • When he was Ah West am I took in the West Ham as a schoolboy.

  • So yeah, they were players that there were no brainers.

  • You know Peter Crouch.

  • You know, I knew I was getting with them boys.

  • They would, they would.

  • They could do the job.

  • So that was a wonder gamble.

  • Incredibly, in less than two seasons you've taken Tottenham from the bottom of the league.

  • Basically, when you joined to the Champions League, your name Manager of the Year is well When when you joined Yukon possibly have imagined that in that time that would have happened, could you?

  • Well, I didn't know it was a club.

  • Obviously.

  • I good players, you know?

  • I'm not gonna see him sell.

  • I turned all these rubbish plays in a great good plumbers lucky Ledley King.

  • And I've got Luca modules.

  • What I did, I pushed Garrett Bell from left back.

  • Pushed you forward one when I went there, Gareth IQ on something like 27 28 games.

  • 26 wherever.

  • The figure was.

  • Never been on a winning team, which is incredible, you know, Alex Ferguson said the mayor wouldn't play Mary.

  • He said he's bad luck.

  • It's a great playoff.

  • It is gonna be a top player.

  • What you were saying that you wanted?

  • Yeah, probably.

  • Yeah.

  • And I give room people.

  • Oh, you're gonna loan him at Never in a 1,000,000 years Would I ever get a loan?

  • Gareth Power.

  • I remember going to watch Tottenham play Fulham.

  • When are many Portsmouth with Joe Jordan?

  • Because we were playing a couple of days later, we were playing chop them and I went.

  • I went to watch him play and the play left back me and Joe Jonas or what talent this kid is.

  • He kept replayed, left back.

  • We kept running a limpet of Phil from left back on that.

  • We're winning at that.

  • And they got paid back by Fulham and I didn't win the game item itself.

  • Fenton.

  • As a kid, it was always gonna be a great Clary.

  • More opinion.

  • You know, you've just been unlucky have been on the winning team if it has stayed at left back.

  • It had probably been the best left back in the world, but I just thought we get more out of him.

  • I've been wild caught.

  • It was a great left bank and I could push him forward and Luca, moderates who was playing left wing or pushed him inside the central where it never played.

  • It taught them changes so suddenly that little switch both players went on on destruct.

  • Lucky for me and they became incredible players in impositions.

  • There are other big players.

  • You came as well, of course, Rafael van der Vaart, ref.

  • It was for untested.

  • Would a player great lad had this class.

  • That score could make no see a pass.

  • I loved him as a football and There's a person.

  • Great Dad.

  • There was another player thing you paid that Wigan didn't.

  • He will get the last Wilson places.

  • He was rumored to be joining some of the other clubs.

  • What?

  • What happened with what?

  • I got Wilshire.

  • I took pills from Wigan and he came in and I felt it gave.

  • Taught them something They've been missing.

  • He was hard.

  • He were closed people.

  • He made tackles.

  • He let let other people play if you like, but equal play as well.

  • But he was a great signing for me and he was here.

  • He had a fantastic period.

  • Unfortunately for him, his career dipped.

  • It was a sad story.

  • His brother got kidnapped.

  • His problem was supposed to be an even better plan.

  • And then the whole family with football, I think there was five brothers, all good players.

  • The father was a foo

Welcome to another edition of the transfer Talk Podcast on We are in the salubrious surroundings of sandbanks Harry Redknapp, the King of the Jungle The one and only Harry Redknapp is with us Thank you so much for welcoming us to your pleasure.

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