Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has paid tribute to retired club captain Ledley King.

Redknapp admitted he knew King was living on borrowed time last term.

Redknapp, who was sacked as Spurs manager last month, told The Sun: "Towards the end of the season he was struggling.

"We were struggling at centre-half with injuries and maybe we had one or two games too many.

"It was difficult for him in the end - he wasn't the Ledley of the start of the year even. Because when he was at his best there was no doubt he was right up there with the best centre-halves you could find."

Redknapp backed King to make a success of his new ambassadorial role.

He said: "There's plenty of life left in him in terms of what he can offer the game.

"He is a top-class player and a special person and I was very lucky to have managed him late in his career.

"To have had him earlier when he was at his best, he would have been a world-class player."