Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is delighted for Harry Redknapp after he guided Tottenham to a first ever Champions League qualification.

Ferdinand played for Redknapp at West Ham United.

"I'm delighted for Harry," he told the Guardian. "He's at a club now where he's being given money to spend and you're seeing the fruits of that. He's a great man- manager, a different kind of manager to [Fabio] Capello and Ferguson, he's more someone who cajoles his payers.

"He'll look at you and make you walk out in the pitch like you're a million dollars, seven feet tall and going to be a great player. I was 15, 16 years old [at West Ham] and I thought I was the next Maradona coming through. He sent me out to Bournemouth [on loan]. I didn't really want to go but I had a great two months."