Tottenham boss Redknapp: Schools soccer convinced me about coaching

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed how he was inspired to get into coaching - by schools soccer.

He's 63 now and began his managerial journey back in 1982 when he succeeded David Webb as part-time manager of Bournemouth.

“You're always learning in football,” he says. “But if you ask me who has had the biggest influence on me, I would say it was further back, when I was a young player at West Ham under Ron Greenwood. We probably didn't appreciate it at the time but Ron was a fantastic coach, the best in British football. Maybe he was a bit too soft as a manager but as a coach there was no one to touch him.

“He encouraged us players to go and coach in the schools. We got £2.50 for an afternoon. We were supposed to finish at 4pm but we were still there at six, playing five a side in the gym.

“Frank Lampard and I coached a few schools and, in the end, we were being paid £10. Then John Bond came along, got involved and we had to share the £20 three ways! It was a great apprenticeship, it gave us an invaluable experience when we were still young. The players these days should try it.”

 
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