Everything was going so well for Tottenham fans. They have the most complete side in years, a top manager consistently guiding them in the right direction, and they are comfortably looking down on their arch rivals Arsenal. Then this happens.
Fabio Capello parts company with England and the problem which was looming somewhere in the distance – that of Harry Redknapp potentially taking over at England – suddenly lands on the doorstep of every Spurs fan this morning.
But let’s fight this fire and bring some reality to the situation. Firstly Harry will, in all probability, continue at Spurs until the end of the season and most likely guide them into the Champions League.
Secondly, he has intimated in the past that he would want to take the England job at some stage, but it’s far from a done deal. Harry will have to think long and hard about this career move. He has never had it better in club football. Never has he had such a platform to show his managerial skills. And it’s all going brilliantly. He can’t fail to be excited by his Tottenham side and what they could achieve under his continued guidance. In all likelihood, his England tenure could see him become a much less popular figure. At very least, it’s a big gamble.
Everyone knows that managing England is one of the hardest jobs in football. You can’t just sign players when you aren’t doing so well. Buying yourself out of trouble simply doesn’t happen. And if you do have a bad result you regularly have to wait for 3 months to remedy the situation. In this way, it’s really hard to gain any momentum.
Harry knows that international football is a completely different beast. He’s no fool and we will be acutely aware that the reputation of every England manager in the last 20 years (apart from Terry Venables, who left under a different cloud) has suffered as a consequence of taking the job. The media glare, something that he generally dislikes anyway, would also intensify beyond anything he has so far witnessed.
It does however seem likely that he will succumb to the dubious charms of the position but he won’t be taking the decision lightly. Also, he may well decide that he only wants the position on a temporary basis for EURO 2012, before returning to club duties in the Autumn.
Lovers of Tottenham will also be hoping that Jose Mourinho throws his name into the hat because he (and possibly the excellent Guus Hiddink) would appear to be the only other serious candidates for the role.
And as a final crumb of comfort to aghast Tottenham fans today, if Harry Redknapp does go, at least it won’t be to another club side – so he can’t take any of his adoring players with him.
