Harry Redknapp laughs off Nigeria rumours

by Graeme Jackson

Friday May 29, 2020. 11:00

Veteran English coach Harry Redknapp has laughed off rumours that he could have replaced Gernot Rohr as Nigeria’s national team manager.

An ESPN report earlier this week suggested that Redknapp was being lined up to take over from the German if talks with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) broke down.

However, NFF president Amaju Pinnick soon announced that they had reached an agreement with Rohr, putting to bed the links with Redknapp.

One of the Englishman’s most trusted players, Peter Crouch, joked on Twitter [https://twitter.com/petercrouch] that he was “excited to get my Nigerian passport” and join up with Redknapp at the Super Eagles.

The 73-year-old has since spoken of the story on talkSPORT and assured that he will not be uprooting his life for a spell in West Africa.

Asked if the job would interest him, Harry joked: “Yeah, well I spoke to Sandra [his wife] and she’s always wanted to live in Nigeria…

“She said it’s amazing that this has come up now, because that was her dream. So we’re looking to sell up, we’re putting the house on the market and we’re looking to get somewhere over there if possible.

“I’m sure, she’d love it there. I’ve told her, she’d absolutely love it… hehe! I’m ready to go!”

Speaking seriously, Redknapp then added: “I actually went there a few years ago with Portsmouth, we played Manchester United… but I don’t think I’ll really be going back.”