QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who missed out on becoming manager of the England national team after The FA appointed Roy Hodgson, has launched a stinging attack on The FA.
Redknapp had a lot to say, and certainly didn’t hold back. One of the most interesting insights is that he had lined up Brendan Rodgers, now Liverpool manager, to be his assistant ahead of Euro 2012.
Redknapp said:
“I wouldn’t trust the FA to show me a good manager if their lives depended on it. How would they know? What clubs have they ever run? Who do they speak to who really knows the game.
“This isn’t about them giving the England job to me or Roy Hodgson, but English football being run by people who really haven’t got a clue. And they get to pick the England manager!
“Everyone said I was the people’s choice, the only choice. 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.
“I have no hard feelings towards Roy [Hodgson]. I phoned him to wish him good luck, and I meant it. He has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world.
“I hope England have the confidence to come up with a blueprint before the tournament in Brazil next summer because the last World Cup was a disaster. We should be better. Doesn’t everyone think that? I am amazed we have been so poor. For me, it comes down to identity. We don’t have any.
“England can sometimes be quite painful to watch, and I know from some of the players that it is not an enjoyable experience for them, either.
“I’ve heard a great many wonder about carrying on in international football because they get slaughtered if the result isn’t right or they don’t play well.
“They leave clubs they love — where everybody is together — go and play for England and find that this faction doesn’t like that lot, and after one off-night everybody gets ripped to pieces.
“When I was at Tottenham I had plenty of players who said, ‘I don’t want to play, pull me out of the squad, I don’t want to go.’
“I’m sure it is different with the older players. I can’t imagine Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or Ashley Cole not wanting to turn out for their country, but I’ve known a lot of younger ones that weren’t interested.
“Times have changed. My generation would have given their right arm just to be named in the squad, but the younger ones aren’t steeped in that tradition. They can’t be bothered.”
What’s your opinion regarding what Redknapp said? Is it sour grapes, or is what he said completely true? Share your opinion in the comments section below.
Here are tonight’s world soccer news headlines:
International soccer
Harry Redknapp launches stinging attack on FA; Says Brendan Rodgers was lined up to be England asst. manager — ESPN FC
Clubs to cash in with $2,800 a day for each 2014 World Cup player — Inside World Football
Rossi and Balzaretti back in Italy squad for World Cup qualifiers — Football Italia
Bradley announces Egypt squad for World Cup play-off with Ghana — King Fut
Ashley Cole is injury doubt for England after suffering rib injury for Chelsea — The Mirror
Uefa denies plans for larger European Championship — BBC Sport
Southampton’s Adam Lallana could break into England squad according to boss Pochettino — The Mirror
Blatter plans joint approach to Brazil with IOC over drug testing lab — Inside World Football
Premier League
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini faces time out with wrist injury — The Guardian
Gary Lineker finds flavour with viewers after reinventing himself on Match of the Day — Telegraph
Manchester United step up efforts to tie Adnan Januzaj to lengthy deal — The Guardian
Tottenham fans ignore police over using Y-word during West Ham match — The Guardian
Spurs fan arrested over yid chant — Irish Independent
Wayne Rooney: Manchester United players have let David Moyes down — The Guardian
We’ve forgotten just what made British football great, says Gary Neville — The Mail
Arsenal and Chelsea among those keen on Karim Benzema as Real Madrid say he can head elsewhere — Mirror
Ian Wright boards Crystal Palace supporters coach to Liverpool — The Mail
Joe Hart howlers do not give full picture of keeper’s apparent decline — The Guardian
Michael Laudrup calls on Swansea City to try and win ‘cynical’ penalties — The Mirror
Arsenal were too narrow and West Brom had done their homework — The Guardian
A-League
Interview: Emile Heskey on life as a Newcastle Jet — The Guardian
Football League
The FA to investigate an incident in which Bournemouth’s Steve Cook was struck by a coin thrown by a Millwall fan — Telegraph
Argentine soccer
Boca Juniors win Super Clasico against River Plate — Mundo Deportivo
Ligue Un
Ten-man Paris Saint-Germain come from behind to beat Marseille — The Guardian
The Nightly Soccer Report is tomorrow’s news today. It’s often tomorrow morning’s worldwide newspaper headlines that are published the night before. We do all the work for you, combing the Internet and aggregating the news for you. Read The Nightly Soccer Report on World Soccer Talk every night before bed, so you can stay on top of all the news that matters.
Redknapp Launches Attack On FA; Says Brendan Rodgers Was Lined Up As England Asst. Manager: Nightly Soccer Report is a post from World Soccer Talk.