Cue the “Can Niko Kranjcar declare for Scotland?” jokes.
Many felt that Harry Redknapp’s career had surely come to an end when he was sacked by Birmingham City last month after just thirteen games in charge.
With his 71st birthday approaching and having managed more than his fair share of football clubs, most assumed that Redknapp would finally put his wheeling and dealing behind him so that he could finally look back on his career and appreciate it.
But Redknapp loves football and he’s admitted that there’s a current vacancy in which he is very interested.
After Gordon Strachan left his position as Scotland boss two weeks ago, Redknapp has admitted that he’d be open to taking over.
“Of course,” Redknapp said when asked if he had an interest in the Scotland position, via the BBC.
“It must be a fantastic job to have. I think Gordon did what he could.”
Redknapp has taken charge of a grand total of seven English clubs in his time and even managed Jordan’s national team for a brief spell last year.
And the former Spurs, Portsmouth and West Ham boss has revealed that he’s been keeping an eye on Scotland’s recent performances.
“I must be truthful, I watched the Scotland games and not the England games, because there was nothing on the England games,” Redknapp continued. “Those last two Scotland games, the win against Slovakia, the late goal, I kicked every ball that day.
“Then I thought Scotland had a chance, and then 1-0 up in the second game (against Slovenia), it would’ve been a real great achievement to have qualified, but I think Gordon did what he could. It’s a difficult job.
“I wouldn’t see myself having any chance of getting it, but it would be a great job for someone.”
Redknapp’s former assistant Joe Jordan, who you may remember from his infamous clash with Gennaro Gattuso in 2011, has been linked with the job.
And while Redknapp has backed Jordan to succeed if he is put in charge of his national team, it doesn’t seem overly far-fetched to imagine a scenario where both men reunite to lead Scotland’s Euro 2020 push.
“Joe would be a good man – you’d have your life on Joe, he’s a fantastic fellow,” Redknapp added. “You’d have him on your side any day of the week.
“He’s a very quiet gentleman away from the pitch for someone who was so aggressive on it. But when Joe speaks, you listen, because he talks an awful lot of common sense.”
