Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

News

HomeNewsEnglish Premier LeagueTottenham Hotspur

Harry Redknapp shares how he really felt when Tottenham decided to sack him

Charles Jones

Sat 11 January 2025 8:15, UK

Daniel Levy has been ruthless when it comes to sacking managers at Tottenham over the years.

Mauricio Pochettino was sacked just months after reaching a Champions League final with Spurs, while Kyle Walker was left in tears when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked.

Antonio Conte was sacked while Tottenham were in fourth-place after his infamous rant after drawing with Southampton, while Jose Mourinho was let go just days before a cup final.

However, perhaps the most cut-throat sacking of them all was the departure of Harry Redknapp in 2012.

Redknapp had finished fourth, only missing out on Champions League football by virtue of Chelsea’s remarkable European campaign that season, but, for Spurs, that was enough to decide they needed a change in the dugout.

Now, speaking on The Rest is Football, Redknapp has discussed his Tottenham sacking.

• READ MORE: Tottenham are aware that Man United could ‘hijack’ their deal and sign ‘powerful’ star this month

How Harry Redknapp felt about his Tottenham sacking

Redknapp spoke about his departure from Spurs.

The manager says that he found the way this situation was handled disrespectful, claiming that he didn’t have a clue that he was going to be sacked after securing a fourth-place finish.

“I had that. It is disrespectful. I had it at Tottenham at the end. I never had a clue, it was completely out of the blue to me It was going great, we finished fourth and we were in the Champions League, but Chelsea got to the final of the Champions League that year and finished sixth.

“When they won it was a disaster. I’d gone from qualifying for the Champions League, and when I got home I was told that Daniel had a meeting with one or two managers at the time.

“It was quite a shock, but yeah, sadly that was it.”

Harry Redknapp compared to other Tottenham managers

Redknapp has every right to feel hard done by, but when you look at the stats, it’s clear that Levy often gets rid of managers in similar circumstances.

Indeed, of all the managers Levy has sacked over the past decade or so, Redknapp does have the worst win percentage.

Of course, Redknapp took over Spurs in a poor position after a terrible spell under Juande Ramos, and the reality is that he did finish fourth in his final season.

However, Levy decided that a change was needed, and he got rid of the veteran coach.

Interestingly, Ange Postecoglou is currently in a much worse position than Redknapp was, but Postecoglou’s job is safe.

Levy has been lenient with Postecoglou so far, but based on recent managerial sackings at Spurs, the Australian could well be on thin ice before too long if results don’t change.