Harry Redknapp spent 4 years at White Hart Lane, guiding Tottenham Hotspur to 2 top four finishes in the Premier League and a League Cup final.
Jermain Defoe in action for Tottenham vs Fulham
Harry Redknapp joined Tottenham Hotspur following the disastrous reign of Juande Ramos. After eight games of the 2008/09 season, Spurs were winless, and evasive action was needed. Ramos was sacked and £5 million compensation was paid to Portsmouth to bring Harry Redknapp to White Hart Lane.
He won three of his first four games, with the other being a thrilling 4-4 draw with North London rivals Arsenal. Spurs went on to 8th that season and qualified for the Champions League the following season, as Redknapp was named manager of the season. The experienced boss guided Tottenham to a 4th place finish once more in 2011/12, but left the club that summer having failed to agree a new deal.
Redknapp’s last game at Tottenham was the final game of the 2011/12 season. Best remembered as the day in which Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero’s dramatic late goals snatched the title from Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal had a battle of their own, fighting for 3rd place. Spurs beat Fulham to finish 4th, but Chelsea’ Champions League success meant it wasn’t enough to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition.
Four years on, we take a look at where that starting XI are now:
Harry Redknapp and Martin Jol before the Tottenham boss’ last game vs Fulham
Brad Friedel
Former US international Brad Friedel was brought to Tottenham at the age of 40, after his contract at Aston Villa expired. He played every single league game during the 2011/12 season, his only season as a regular starter at Spurs. Now aged 45, Friedel was named the United States under-19’s head coach in January 2016.
Younes Kaboul
A loyal servant to Tottenham for 5 years, but like Brad Friedel, the 2011/12 season was the only one in which Younes Kaboul was a regular fixture in the Spurs side, making 41 appearances in all competitions. He left the club last year to join Sunderland, before moving to current club Watford in the summer. David Moyes’ men look like they could do with Kaboul back right now though.
William Gallas
The first player to make a first team appearance for all three of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, William Gallas joined Spurs from their North London rivals in 2010. He went on to spend three seasons at Tottenham, making 61 league appearances.
The former French international retired from playing professionally after spending the 2013/14 season with Perth Glory, and has since done TV work in Malaysia.
Kyle Walker
The only player who started Harry Redknapp’s last game as Tottenham manager that is still at the club, Kyle Walker has now been a Spurs player for 9 years, and is just 3 games shy of reaching 200 apperances for the club. The former Sheffield United man won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2011/12, and has gone on to win 22 caps for England.
Gareth Bale
Harry Redknapp looks on as Gareth Bale receives the ball
The second most expensive player in the history of the game, Gareth Bale just signed a new deal with Real Madrid that will keep him at the Bernabeu until 2022. The 27-year-old scored 12 goals in 42 games for Tottenham in the 2011/12 season, making the PFA Team of the Year. Since leaving Spurs, Bale has won the Champions League twice and three other major trophies at Real Madrid.
Aaron Lennon
A regular fixture for Tottenham during the majority of Harry Redknapp’s reign as manager, Aaron Lennon spent a decade at White Hart Lane, before joining Everton in 2015. The pacy winger made 364 appearances for the club, winning the League Cup in 2008.
Rafel van der Vaart
Former European Golden Boy winner Rafael van der Vaart was a fan favourite at White Hart Lane. The gifted attacking midfielder joined Spurs from Real Madrid in 2010, and went on to make 78 appearances in a little over 2 seasons at the Lane. Now aged 33, van der Vaart is currently playing in Denmark for FC Midtjylland. He reportedly joined the club largely due to his current partner, Estavana Polman, playing handball in Denmark.
Luka Modric
The second man to start Harry Redknapp’s last game in charge of Tottenham that now stars for Real Madrid, Luka Modric has really established himself as one of the best midfield players in world football. The four-time Croatian footballer of the year made 159 appearances in 4 years with Spurs, and has gone on to win 7 trophies in 4 years at Real Madrid.
Jake Livermore
Fulham’s Mahamadou Diarra in action against Tottenham’s Jake Livermore
From Real Madrid to Hull City; Jake Livermore is one of a number of former Spurs players now plying their trade at the KCOM Stadium, along with the likes of Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Ryan Mason. Livermore spent 6 years in the Tottenham first team, making 58 appearances and winning 1 cap for England, before joining the Tigers for £8 million.
Sandro
Former Brazilian international Sandro looked to have a very promising career ahead of him when he first joined Tottenham in 2010. He was a semi-regular starter in his first 3 seasons at the club, but was injured for much of his fourth and last season at White Hart Lane.
The ‘beast’, as he was referred to by some Tottenham fans, joined QPR in 2014, but has more recently been in search of a move, and failed a medical at Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor spent the 2011/12 season on-loan at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 17 goals in 33 games, prompting Spurs to sign the Togo international on a permanent deal. Adebayor has often been criticised for starting with a bang at clubs before fading away, and it was a similar story at Tottenham. The 32-year-old left Spurs in 2015, and is currently a free agent following a brief spell at Crystal Palace.
Were you at Harry Redknapp’s last game as Tottenham manager? If so, tell us your memories of the fixture…
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