Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp on volatile Italians, Welsh wizards and skilful Moroccans

“I got a phone call and someone said 'Harry, do you think you could manage Jordan?’ I went ‘listen, I’m 72 years of age and she’s a bit lively ain’t she.’ This is just one of the great anecdotes former football boss Harry Redknapp has to offer from his 34-year managerial career.

Across those three and a half decades Redknapp has encountered a number of high-profile characters on his journey but he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“Most of the lads I’ve met in my lifetime in football have been great people. You always get one or two idiots in every walk of life but most of them I found just to be great lads,” says Redknapp.

However, Redknapp had to deal with one of the biggest egos in Premier League history in only his second managerial role with West Ham. None other than Italian stallion Paulo Di Canio.

“He was a genius, but he was quite hard work. He was a volatile Italian. I used to have to handle him very carefully.

26 Aug 2000: Paolo Di Canio of West Ham talks with his manager Harry Redknapp as West Ham face Manchester United in the FA Carling Premiership at Upton Park.

“If we had a nine-a-side we would the people on his team that might kick him if they were on the other team because he would flare up. Stuart Pearce, Nigel Winterburn, anybody that might kick him I’d make sure they were on his team because at any given minute he could lose it,” explains Redknapp.

For every few players that caused issues for the 72-year-old, there were always some special talent that fulfilled their potential. In particular the Welsh wizard Gareth Bale who burst into the limelight under Redknapp at Tottenham. However, it didn’t always look hopeful for the Welshman.

“When I’d gone there Gareth had gone 27 games and never been on the winning team at Tottenham.

“I remember talking to Alex Ferguson who said he wouldn’t play him because he’s bad luck. I had to pick him.

“What I did was I waited till we were 3-0 up against West Brom with about three minutes to go. I thought he can’t mess this up today and on he went, and we won the game and broke the duck,” explains Redknapp.

February 9, 2013: Gareth Bale was at White Hart Lane for the whole of Redknapp's reign.

“I moved him from left back to left wing and pushed Luka Modric central. Looking back on it you get these things. Luka ended up being one of the great central midfielders in the world and Gareth would’ve been the best left back if he’d stayed there but became at that stage the third best player in the world.”

Another player who went onto be one of the world’s best was Redknapp’s nephew Frank Lampard who he managed at the hammers.

“When I look back, when Frank signed for West Ham. The youth coach Tony Carr said to me ‘Harry, he’s never going to be a player.’ I said he’s got an unbelievable attitude. Everyday he’d be out on the training pitch when it was dark. Every day on his own just wanting to be a footballer. I’ve never seen anyone in my life come anywhere near him.“

With Lampard now showing his managerial credentials with Chelsea, Redknapp thinks his nephew can inspire his players with his playing experiences.

“He’s bright as a button. He’s got everything to go on to be a top manager for many years for sure. He knows the game inside and out.

“He’s just a great example to them all.”

Redknapp wishes a number of his former players could have reflected the same attitude including a certain skillful Moroccan.

“I had a player at QPR called Adel Taarabt who had amazing ability. He was very difficult to work with, but a great talent wasted. He could’ve been incredible.” Says Redknapp with a sense of disappointment.

Redknapp himself is one for spinning a yarn to entertain others and reminisces about some of the players that entertained him in his West Ham days.

“I had a boy called John Moncur play for me at West Ham. He was mad.

“We came in one day and it was raining so hard and I went out and he was just there in his boots and nothing else and he trained the whole morning like that. He was a character.”

Redknapp continues: “You get odd characters, I had a left back at Spurs called Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

“He was a fantastic player but when he was questioned ‘what are your ambitions?’ He said he wanted to be a pornstar!

“That’s what he is probably doing now. I don’t know if anyone has seen him in any films lately, but I certainly haven’t.”