Harry Redknapp said he has not been approached by the Football Association about the England manager’s job. The FA began the process of finding a successor to Fabio Capello last week with the Tottenham Hotspur boss, 64, favourite with bookmakers to take the role.
“I’ve not spoken to anybody – I’m not going to rule myself out but I’ve not been ruled in either,” Redknapp said ahead of the FA Cup tie at Stevenage. I’ve just been thinking about Stevenage all week.”
Harry Redknapp confirmed that the England position vacated by Fabio Capello on the 8th February, could not be done on a part-time basis in the long term.
“I had an interview [with Abu Dhabi Sports] I was asked if could someone could do it just for Euros,” Redknapp continued.
In the long term it couldn’t be done part-time, it would have be done full-time. You couldn’t run any club in any country in the world and do that job as well.”
Harry Redknapp’s club side are currently enjoying one of their most successful seasons in recent years, with seven points separating themselves in third with leaders Manchester City and a 10-point gap to fourth-placed arch rivals Arsenal.
“My focus is on trying to get Tottenham as high up the table as I can, we want a Champions League spot and we also have a chance in the FA Cup.”
The Premier League season finishes on 13 May when Spurs play Fulham at White Hart Lane. England have friendlies against Norway in Oslo on 26 May and Belgium at Wembley on 2 June. It’s largely thanks to Redknapp that Spurs managed to both avoid the drop and build for the future.
His astute transfer dealings and tendency for getting the best out of his players have seen Spurs rise and rise, qualify for the Champions League – and enjoy some fantastically exciting nights out in Europe.
England’s Euro 2012 campaign begins against France on 11 June.
On Thursday, Redknapp said he was aware that he was being heavily backed by fans and players to land the national role.
“I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t the popular choice,”
the ex-Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth and Southampton manager said.
“I know I am, it’s been everywhere, in every paper every day. But it’s not an easy one. I have a good job and I work with good people and I have a good team.
Just to walk away now, when we’re in such a good position, it wouldn’t be fair, it wouldn’t be fair on Tottenham. I have to really keep focusing on Tottenham.”
