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Harry RedknappEnglish footballer and football coach
Date of Birth: 02.03.1947
Country:  Great Britain |
Biography of Harry Redknapp
Early Years
Harry Redknapp was born in Poplar, London, as the only child of Henry Redknapp and Violet Brown. His father worked at a shipyard, while his mother worked at a confectionery factory and also worked as an office cleaner in the mornings. Harry would often go to his grandmother, Maggie Brown, after school, who introduced him to horse racing and card games. His father also sparked his interest in football. As a child, his favorite club was Arsenal and he particularly admired the playing style of Jimmy Bloomfield.
Playing Career
Harry Redknapp played as a footballer primarily for West Ham United and Bournemouth. Towards the end of his career, he played in lower leagues in England and the United States. He spent almost his entire career in the English Premier League, playing mostly for West Ham. He achieved his best result, finishing eighth, and did not play in European competitions.
Coaching Career
Redknapp began his coaching career at his former club, Bournemouth. As a coach, he won the Intertoto Cup with West Ham in 1999 and the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008. He has been the manager of Portsmouth twice during his coaching career. In the 2009/10 season, he was awarded the prestigious Manager of the Year in the English Premier League. In the 2010/11 season, he led Tottenham Hotspur to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. He later took charge of Queens Park Rangers in 2012.
Personal Life
Redknapp married Sandra Harris, an 18-year-old hairdresser from Essex, on June 30, 1968, after dating for four years. They have two sons, Jamie, who is a former footballer, and Mark, who is a model. Jamie made his debut under his father's management at Bournemouth in 1990, then played for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, and ended his career at Southampton in 2005. Redknapp's grandson, also named Harry Redknapp, signed a contract with Bournemouth in May 2014. Frank Lampard, a former midfielder for the England national team, is Redknapp's nephew. Lampard's mother, Patricia, is Sandra Redknapp's twin sister, and Harry played with Frank Lampard Sr. during his playing career.
Philanthropy and Other Ventures
Redknapp and his wife have made significant contributions to the Leukaemia Busters charity in Southampton. In 2004, they took over the organization from former cricketer David Gower and his wife, Torunn. The Redknapps also own a construction company called Pierfront Developments. In August 2011, it was announced that the company would continue housing construction in Southsea, Hampshire, without an affordable housing program. Instead, the company offered £600,000 to the city council for the construction of affordable housing elsewhere, and this proposal was accepted.
Later Years
In January 2011, Redknapp was robbed while attending a football match in Spain. On November 2, 2011, he underwent surgery to unblock a coronary artery. In June 2012, it was reported that Redknapp had joined the Betfair betting exchange as a "Euro 2012 pundit." His responsibilities included providing game analysis for betting purposes and advising Betfair clients. In October 2013, Redknapp published his autobiography, "Always Managing," with journalist Martin Samuel as the ghostwriter.
