Harry Redknapp is the manager of Tottenham Hotspur and is one of the most popular and experienced managers working in the Premier League. Since joining Spurs he has successfully transformed them into a top 6 club and even guided them into the Champions League after they finished 4th in 2009/10. His achievements haven’t gone unnoticed and he was linked with the Chelsea vacancy this summer after Carlo Ancelotti was axed. However, he remains in charge of Tottenham for the start of the 2011/12 season.

Profile

Redknapp had a decent career as a player for West Ham and Bournemouth and took his first coaching role in England as Assistant Manager at Bournemouth in 1982. Harry had some great years at Dean Court, winning promotion to the 2^nd Division in 1987 being the highlight.

After being assistant manager to Billy Bonds at West Ham, Redknapp became the club’s official manager in August 1994. During his time at West Ham he made them an established Premier League team and had a strong influence on the Academy and was responsible for bringing through a host of high quality players including Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinhand. Redknapp was sacked in 2001 after inappropriate comments made in an interview.

Redknapp was appointed manager of Portsmouth in March 2002 after previously working in the role of Director of Football at the club. The following season he led the club to the dizzying heights of the Premier League after they won Division One. After keeping the club in the Premier League he resigned in November 2004 and caused huge controversy by joining Pompey’s fierce local rivals Southampton just a few weeks later. However, he was unable to save the Saints from relegation to the Championship at the end of the season.

Redknapp left saints in December 2005 and in yet another contentious move he returned to former club Portsmouth just a few days later and saved them from relegation to the Championship. The next season they finished in a very impressive 9^th and then the following year he won the club their first FA Cup for 69 years when they beat Cardiff City at Wembley.

In 2008 he became manager of Tottenham Hotspur and led them to the Carling Cup Final in his first season in charge, where they lost on penalties to Man Utd. The following season, in his first full campaign in charge, he broke the monopoly of the top four by guiding Spurs to 4th in the Premier League (their most successful finish ever) and thus qualification for the Champions League. His efforts were also rewarded in the form of the Premier League Manager of the Year award.

Last season Spurs had a terrific run in the Champions League, beating the likes of Inter and AC Milan on route to the quarter-finals, where they lost to Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. The club missed out on qualifying for the competition again last season but finished 5th and qualified for the Europa League.

Job Security

Redknapp’s job at White Hart Lane seems pretty secure for the time being. He is unlikely to be sacked unless the club have a truly awful season. The club’s main concern will be holding onto their manager who may be tempted by a move to another of the Premier League’s big clubs or even a move abroad. Redknapp is also the bookies favourite in the Next England Manager Betting, which becomes vacant during the summer of 2012 after Fabio Capello steps down.

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