With this being an International week, a lot of attention has been focused on England ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifiers Montenegro and Poland. This too has tied up with Harry Redknapp’s autobiography being released.
Redknapp was many peoples favourite to take over the England job from Fabio Capello until the FA decided to rather go for Roy Hodgson, a decision which shocked many including Redknapp himself. Harry claims in his new book that a lot of senior England players at that time, including Steven Gerrard, texted him saying they would love him to get the job.
Redknapp wrote: “All the senior players seemed to be up for me to get the job.
“I got quite a few text messages at the time from players saying they would love me to manage England: Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry.”
Steven Gerrard however has denied these claims, saying he didn’t send Redknapp any such text messages.
Gerrard said, “I can clear it up. I didn’t text Harry Redknapp’s personal phone, I have never had his personal number.
“But I am a big fan of Harry’s and close friends with Jamie (Redknapp’s son, a former Liverpool and England midfielder).
“I had a conversation with Jamie round about that time when Harry was on everyone’s lips. He was the favourite and it was only a matter of days before he was going to be manager.
“I said to Jamie on the phone ‘send the best to your dad and, if he gets the job, we’ll all back him and we’ll support him’.
“Very soon after that, the FA decided that Roy Hodgson would be the next manager and I think, from the first conversation I had with Roy, I tried to back him and give him my best, and I was absolutely delighted he got the job.
“I’ve worked with him before, he made me captain, and I think I’ve played my most consistent football under Roy, so I’ve got a lot to thank him for.”
So that has cleared things up and credit to the England captain for revealing the truth. Some may have read into Redknapp’s statement and believed that senior players such as Gerrard are not happy to work with Hodgson and would rather be working under Harry right now.
