HARRY REDKNAPP FOCUSED ON SPURS

Harry Redknapp says he hasn't "thought about England" and his focus is on Tottenham.

Last Updated: 09/02/12 at 21:54 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Manager Specials. Click here to bet.

Harry Redknapp: Not thinking about England

Harry Redknapp: Not thinking about England

Harry Redknapp said on Thursday morning he has "not even thought about" becoming the next England manager.

The Tottenham boss, who was cleared on Wednesday of tax evasion charges, is the firm favourite to replace Fabio Capello, who resigned after talks with Football Association chairman David Bernstein.

Redknapp spoke as he left his home near Poole on Thursday, and played down talk of him stepping in to guide the team at Euro 2012.

He said: "I've not even thought about it. I've got a job to do. I've got a big game on Saturday for Tottenham. Tottenham is my focus."

Tottenham face Newcastle at the weekend, and Redknapp insists all his attention is on that fixture.

Asked whether he could help out England this summer, Redknapp said: "I've never thought about it.

"They (the Football Association) will make whatever decision they want to make. Hopefully it'll be the right decision for the country but my focus is all on Tottenham."

Capello dramatically resigned over the FA's decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the England captaincy.

The FA took that action after Terry's trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand was scheduled for July, after the Euro 2012 finals. Terry denies the offence.

Although Capello was known to be frustrated by the FA's move, the Italian's decision to walk away caught many, including Redknapp, by surprise.

Redknapp said: "I was shocked. I was surprised. I didn't expect that to happen.

"We knew he was going to leave in the summer. I didn't expect it to happen now."

Redknapp has been in charge at Tottenham since October 2008, when he took over a team sitting bottom of the Premier League.

He soon lifted the team clear of danger and has since led them to a Champions League quarter-final, while they are involved in the Premier League title battle this season.

"Tottenham have been fantastic to me," Redknapp said from his car today, as he stopped for waiting reporters.

"The fans last week at the Wigan game...it was incredible the reception they gave me.

"It wouldn't be right for them, (for me) to focus on anything else but Tottenham.

"That's my only interest, is Tottenham Hotspur."

His son Jamie thinks his father is the "outstanding candidate" - but says it is not a given that he will take the job.

The Sky Sports says Redknapp Sr will bide his time before deciding his next move - and stressed it is not inevitable that he would leave White Hart Lane if he was offered the post of national team boss.

"The attention has switched to my dad and everyone's talking about him being the next England manager," Redknapp told skysports.com.

"He is the outstanding candidate and everyone wants my dad to do it, but it is up to him what he wants to do.

"The last few weeks might have changed everything; he'll take some time to digest what's gone on and enjoy his football again.

"If his ambition is to manage England and England want him, I'm sure that will be the case, but at the moment he's very happy working with Tottenham.

"They've showed him fantastic support during the trial; they've gone there every day. It will be difficult for him to decide what he wants to do."

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp believes Capello never fully gauged the English footballing mind-set and says that is a prerequisite.

"Once it all kicked off this week with Fabio Capello disagreeing with the FA, I knew that his position had become untenable," added Redknapp.

"I almost wondered if he manoeuvred it to be that way because I didn't always feel as if he wanted to be here.

"He hadn't managed in England before and I don't think he really understood the English mentality. It has to be someone who understands the game and knows all players; I think that was always a problem for Fabio Capello.

"He's obviously a very good manager but I never felt the job meant everything to him, and now it's the right time to have an English manager."

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here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

gunner14
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

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remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

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den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

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