Harry happy to end career at Spurs

Harry happy to end career at Spurs

Published Dec. 19, 2010 10:11 a.m. ET

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp would be happy to finish his career at White Hart Lane - but admits he does not know what the future holds.

The Spurs boss, whose side have landed a last 16 Champions League encounter against AC Milan in February and March, has been linked with the England job when Fabio Capello leaves after the European Championships in 2012.

But the 63-year-old, asked if he would be content if Tottenham were his last football job, replied: "Of course I would. For sure, only I don't think that far ahead.

"In this game you just never know. Yeah, it's gone great but I was enjoying my life before and out of the blue suddenly you get a phone call (from Tottenham).

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"It never entered my mind that I would leave Portsmouth, I was enjoying it there and suddenly you get an offer to come here.

"Whoever thought Sam (Allardyce) would get the sack. It can turn so quickly, half a dozen games and suddenly you don't know what you're doing. You go from being the cleverest person in the world to being the biggest idiot in the world. That's how this game works unfortunately."

On the possibility of succeeding Capello, Redknapp added: "It's flavour of the month this game. Roy Hodgson was favourite at the start of the year. Alan Curbishley nearly had it last time, now he can't get a job in the Premier League. Who knows what happens in 18 months time?"

The Spurs boss admits his biggest problem is keeping happy players such as Robbie Keane and Niko Kranjcar who are currently not in his high-flying side.

Redknapp said: "They all want to play. I can't say Robbie and Niko are happy because they're not. It's hard when you are not in the team. They get well paid but they want to play football.

"They get a bit low at times but we try to keep them all involved. I try to make them as part of everything as I can but I can't guarantee they are going to play."

When it comes to Europe Redknapp cannot see past Barcelona, who beat fierce rivals Real Madrid 5-0 recently and who face Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League in a repeat of their semi-final encounter two seasons ago.

Redknapp said: "Barcelona are amazing to watch. Their movement is incredible.

"It's a bit like Holland and Johan Cruyff (former Barcelona coach) has taken some of the credit. He put down the blueprint for the way they play. They play total football.

"Their football is fantastic to watch. It will be a great game against Arsenal but Barcelona would be red hot favourites. What they did to Real Madrid made them look like a non-league team almost. It was embarrassing and incredible to watch."

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