Harry Redknapp has suggested on his self-titled podcast that Daniel Levy worked his magic in negotiations over his Tottenham Hotspur contract.
Redknapp took charge of Spurs in 2008, and he admits that at the time he was so keen to sign the deal that he didn’t fully read the contract put in front of him.
The veteran boss ended up being heavily linked with the England job during his time at Tottenham.
However, the Three Lions ultimately opted to give the job to Roy Hodgson.
And Redknapp has now opened up on how he believes that Levy played a part in stopping him getting the England job.
“I think I was 10/1 on favourite, there was only me and Roy Hodgson in the running [for the England job]. Everyone said you’re a certainty to get the job,” Redknapp said.
“Looking back on it, and whether this was the reason I really don’t know, but when I went to Tottenham I didn’t have an agent and I signed a contract, where I didn’t look at the small print.
“All I look at was that they were going to pay me x amount a week, they’re going to pay me x amount if we make it into European competition and then bonuses.
“But what was in there was that if I left the club there was a compensation of £16 million. £5 million which they paid Portsmouth, plus all the wages that I earned at Tottenham.
“If they sacked me, they had to give me £1 million. Daniel gave me a contract really, which was just… and I just signed it.
“I thought ‘oh he’s giving me x amount a week, lovely’ and I just signed it.”
The comments just add to Levy’s reputation as a master dealer.
Redknapp has made no secret of his disappointment at missing out on the England job since those links, and his time at Tottenham actually seemed to take a turn for the worse after he missed out on the international post.
Redknapp still did an excellent job at Tottenham, though, guiding them back into the Champions League, before he was sacked in 2012.
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