There was a time when Harry Redknapp was hailed as a hero at White Hart Lane, leading Tottenham Hotspur to fourth place and the Champions League in 2009-2010 and then jumping out to a 10-point lead over rivals Arsenal in February of this year. But things have gone downhill since, and Redknapp has paid for it with his job. Whether the club calls it a resignation, firing or moving in another direction, it is clear this move was initiated by the club.
Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur Part Ways
Four months ago, Harry Redknapp was the “it” manager in England. Now, he is out of a job.
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“This is not a decision the Board and I have taken lightly,” Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement. “Harry arrived at the Club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed. This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the Club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution. Harry will always be welcome at the Lane.”
Redknapp and Levy haven’t gotten along great at Spurs. Redknapp has been continually frustrated at the club’s lack of spending and Levy has been annoyed with Redknapp’s comments to the media about anything and everything and his tax evasion trial, among other things.
Tottenham tanked at the end of the season, blowing their 10-point lead over Arsenal and dropping to fourth place, which doesn't earn them a Champions League place because Chelsea are defending champions. As soon as that happened, speculation starting running rampant that Levy would sack Redknapp. He had the results to back the sacking and now he has done it.
Levy will certainly draw criticism for ousting the manager who took them to the Champions League for the first time ever and had them competing for spots in each of his three years, but clearly he felt that the team underachieved down the stretch. And for a team with Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor, it wouldn't be difficult to argue that Spurs did underachieve.
Early speculation is that David Moyes will replace Redknapp, which is consistent with the speculation that Moyes would replace Redknapp if Redknapp got the England job. Former Tottenham player and current Brighton and Hove Albion manager Gus Poyet will likely also come up as a possible replacement, but nobody has a firm grasp of what Levy is thinking and nothing is anything more than speculation right now.
What is incredible is that it was just four months ago that Redknapp was the manager in England. He had Tottenham flying high and was the sure-fire next England manager. Times have really changed and now he’s out of a job.
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