Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Harry Redknapp leaves Tottenham Hotspur manager's job


  Veteran manager Redknapp, who was heavily linked with the England job before the Football Association opted for Roy Hodgson, had denied speculation that he had resigned on Tuesday. The 65-year-old had a year left on his contract but reportedly failed to agree a new deal with chairman Daniel Levy. Everton manager David Moyes is a contender for the job but the Toffees have received no approach for the Scot. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements," Redknapp said on the Spurs website . "I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking. I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there." Levy thanked the former Spurs boss on the club's official statement. He said: "This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly. 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 left Portsmouth for Tottenham, who were four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League, in October 2008. He guided Spurs to a first-ever Champions League campaign in 2010. After finishing fourth last season, Tottenham only missed out on a repeat of that when Chelsea won the Champions League. Redknapp was immediately installed as the favourite to replace Fabio Capello when the Italian resigned from the England job in February, only for the FA to move for Hodgson. He admitted last week that he would have left Tottenham if he had been offered the national job. When Capello left his post as England boss on 8 February, Spurs were third in the league, 10 points clear of a faltering Arsenal but they eventually finished a point behind the Gunners. Levy is understood to have been left disappointed by Spurs' end-of-season slump. Redknapp consistently rejected suggestions that Tottenham were affected by the speculation linking him with England. Last week he urged Spurs to resolve his future, insisting that the uncertainty could cause problems in the Tottenham dressing room. He said:

"The simple situation is I've got a year left on my contract. It's up to Tottenham whether they want to extend that contract or not. "If they don't extend it and I go into my last year, it's not an easy one when players know you've only got a year left. "It's up to Tottenham. If they think I'm OK and I've done a decent job and deserve an extension, they'll give it to me." But having been the longest-serving Tottenham manager since Terry Venables, whose reign ended in 1991, he has now left the club. Redknapp spent most of his playing career with West Ham and Bournemouth and managed both clubs before taking charge of Portsmouth in 2002. He guided the Fratton Park club into the Premier League within 14 months as First Division champions. Redknapp left for Pompey's bitter South Coast rivals Southampton in 2004 but returned to Fratton Park in December 2005. Then, after dramatically saving Pompey from relegation with a brilliant end-of-season run, Redknapp steered them to a best-ever Premier League finish of ninth in 2006-07. They improved on that by a place in 2007-08, and won the FA Cup against Cardiff, qualifying for their first journey into Uefa Cup football. Just months later he replaced Juande Ramos at struggling Tottenham, eventually finishing eighth in the table and qualifying for the Champions League by finishing fourth the following season. Spurs were eventually beaten in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid and could only finish fifth in the Premier League. At the turn of the year they were considered potential title challengers but a run of one victory in nine matches contributed to them slipping to fourth and losing out to Chelsea for the final Champions League place.











 13 June 2012 Last updated at 22:34 GMT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18436663
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