Throughout Harry Redknapp’s life, many episodes have placed him in dangerous situations, leading onlookers to question how he would manage to extricate himself.
Time and again, ‘Harry Houdini’ has managed to pull through, and once more he did so yesterday when the jury—some of whom had chuckled at his remarks—found him not guilty of tax evasion.
In his signature Cockney style, Redknapp labeled himself as ‘a fantastic football manager, not a shrewd businessman’ who has always found himself overpaying taxes.
His words were: ‘Don’t rip anybody off along the way, but if there’s a chance to earn a few quid, take it because it doesn’t last forever.’
In another instance, he recounted how he had to explain the income tax system to a trainee, telling the young man: ‘Everyone in the country has to pay it.’
Both stories capture the carefree spirit of ’Arry Redknapp, who symbolizes the aspirations and victories of the everyday person for millions of football enthusiasts.
One such admirer stood outside the court for an hour in the cold, hoping to have a copy of the Spurs 2012 album signed by Redknapp. Much to his delight, Harry obliged.
At nearly 65, Harry appears to have no grey hairs—a rarity in an industry that often ages individuals quickly. His enduring passion for the sport is remarkable given his background as a docker’s son.
Despite rising from East End poverty to substantial wealth, he admits he is completely baffled by financial matters.
The court noted that he had ‘no business acumen whatsoever,’ and he even remarked that he ‘writes like a two-year-old.’ He added that he has ‘never written a letter in my life… can’t operate a computer… don’t know what an email is… never sent a fax and never sent a text message.’
Their venture, Pierfront Developments, launched in 2003 while he was managing Portsmouth for the first time, reported a pre-tax profit of £1.75 million last year.
At present, they are constructing a project of 92 flats in Southsea, which are anticipated to sell for approximately £100,000 each. Planning approval faced delays due to a dispute, during which Harry indicated that the project would not proceed if forced to include 30 percent affordable housing (as per government social housing regulations), claiming it would render the development financially unfeasible. Local critics branded this as ‘corporate blackmail.’
Harry resolved the situation by agreeing to pay Portsmouth Council £600,000, in return for which they granted planning permission for the development without any inclusion of affordable homes.
The company asserts that the development will ‘still incur losses’ because of the distressed housing market; however, the project will move forward because, as a spokesperson elaborated, ‘Harry didn’t want to let anyone down.’“`html
In 1973, while she was expecting their second son Jamie Redknapp, a football columnist, Sky pundit, and former player who accompanied his father to court daily, Redknapp shared that he and Sandra faced financial struggles so severe that they could scarcely afford the mortgage on their modest £6,000 semi.
To help with finances, Sandra provided home hairdressing services in Hampshire, where the couple lived during Harry’s time playing for Bournemouth.
Switching to a management role changed their fortunes significantly. With Portsmouth paying him £800,000 annually, plus a £500,000 bonus for leading the team to Premier League promotion, they bought a lavish house for £3 million on the prestigious Sandbanks peninsula in Dorset, known for having the fourth-highest property values worldwide.
Their residence boasts a prime location overlooking Poole Harbour, with a gated driveway and a garden that extends to a private mooring, currently valued at around £10 million.
These days, despite being able to moor a yacht there, Harry, who left school with no qualifications, chooses not to own one.
One of his oldest friends remarked, “Harry’s only hobby is football. It’s essentially all he talks about,” suggesting that discussions about money are notably absent. Harry’s philosophy is: “Money is not my god.”
However, over the years, there have been various allegations regarding controversy over bonuses and profit arrangements related to player transfers.
In 2001, Harry resigned from his position as West Ham manager (the team he played for in the Sixties and Seventies) following a dispute with the chairman, who was uncomfortable with Harry’s personal involvement in an unprecedented 134 transfers over the span of seven years.
Insisting upon his innocence, Harry stepped down.
His subsequent entanglement with authorities occurred in 2007 when police visited his Sandbanks residence at 6 AM.
As part of a corruption inquiry in football, City of London Police raided multiple locations nationwide, resulting in five arrests on charges of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.
Harry, however, was not present; he was in Germany for a football match.
He also realized that any corruption allegations—which he strongly refuted—coupled with his arrest for questioning could threaten his chances of obtaining a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to manage the England football team. He made a vow to sue.
After being released without charge, he indeed pursued legal action.
The following year, the High Court deemed the police raid unlawful, awarding him £1,000 in damages for wrongful arrest.
Yet, in 2009, police returned to his home regarding unrelated matters, culminating in his arrest which led to a 13-day court case that just concluded. Harry’s wit, along with his exceptional ability to manage footballers and extract the best from them, has always contributed to his charm. However, even his friends acknowledge that at times, his ambitions have overshadowed his loyalties.
For instance, who else but Harry Redknapp could transition from managing Portsmouth to their fierce rivals, Southampton, and later return to the Pompey ranks?
In one instance, he was labeled a ‘scummer’, a traitor whose mobile number was maliciously circulated online, and there was…
“`Even the idea that his life was at risk.
Without a hint of embarrassment or discomfort, the next moment found him returning as a savior while the club faced relegation.
Not only did he rescue Portsmouth, but he also led the underestimated team to victory in the 2008 FA Cup Final. From the label of ‘scummer,’ he transformed into a hero, even being awarded the Freedom of the City.
However, just as he was about to receive this honor, a lucrative offer of £3million a year to manage Tottenham Hotspur – one of the prominent clubs struggling at the bottom of the Premiership – emerged.
This left Harry in a situation where, after a financially rewarding switch to North London, he had to return for his induction as a Freeman of the City to a crowd of jeering Portsmouth supporters, filled with boos and cries of ‘Judas’.
It’s no surprise that his head hung low as he was officially escorted into the council chamber for the brief ceremony. But remember, this was ’Arry Redknapp, so a rescue wasn’t far behind.
It came from a young girl standing just before him, who expressed: ‘I just want to say we still love you Harry and thank you for everything you did for us.’
In an instant, the jeers and cat calls faded, replaced by a wave of affection. He had confronted yet another crisis and emerged victorious.
Yet, another significant challenge lay ahead. Throughout his football career, he often spoke of his love for Arsenal and how his father took him to all their matches.
Now, he found himself in the role of managing their fierce north London rivals, Spurs.
Harry typically downplayed the situation by stating: ‘I haven’t murdered anyone, I haven’t raped anyone. I’ve just got a new job.’ That promptly ended the crisis.
He was presented with an alternative offer to manage a struggling Newcastle, but it was never a serious consideration, as the thought of being 370 miles away from Sandbanks would mean prolonged separation from Sandra. Their bond has only grown stronger since the passing of her twin sister Pat in 2008 – the mother of Chelsea and England star Frank Lampard.
The Spurs position in North London – where he has thrived spectacularly – allows him to drive his Mercedes back home to Sandbanks most evenings, despite the nearly three-hour, 140-mile journey. His alarm is set for 5:20 a.m. to make the drive to work – hardly an ideal routine for someone who underwent surgery just three months ago to alleviate blocked arteries in his heart. Fortunately, he shares driving duties with his assistant manager, Kevin Bond, who resides nearby.
Indeed, the Redknapps enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in their home adorned with ornate furniture and family photographs – they are proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
Their British bulldog, Buster, roams freely around the house.
It was, however, the couple’s other bulldog, Rosie (now deceased), whose name was linked to Harry’s Monaco bank account, central to the tax avoidance case. Notably, they used to warn visitors not to wear highly polished black shoes, as Rosie would chew them, ‘whether feet are in them or not,’ recalls one unfortunate guest.
The Redknapps are notably generous as well. Harry and Sandra take a prominent role in supporting a local charity, Leukaemia Busters, donating substantial sums to assist its cause. Nowadays, Harry relishes a bottle of fine red wine, much like his friend, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Nonetheless, the public seems to prefer their picture of him as a bacon-sandwich-and-cup-of-tea type of man.
Above all, yesterday’s acquittal keeps him in the running as the people’s favorite to manage the England football team.
This role might offer around £6million a year, but those who have previously occupied the position will confirm there is no job in football more perilous. Redknapp, however, wouldn’t be overly concerned about that. He earned the nickname Harry Houdini for a good reason.
by Jeff Millins