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Few managers have had quit the impact on the English game like Harry Redknapp, but he wasn’t always a popular figure — just ask Aston Villa fans.
Redknapp made his name with Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth in the 2000s, and even managed to lift the FA Cup with Pompey against all odds.
The South coast club have endured a rollercoaster ride since those days, slipping rapidly through the football league and ending up in League Two, largely due to severe financial issues.
They’re back in the Championship now, though, and while they’re not quite safe from relegation, Portsmouth are looking like they can stay in the second tier this time.
But, looking back through the history books at Redknapp’s era at Fratton Park, there were tumultuous times on and off the pitch throughout.
What happened between Aston Villa and Harry Redknapp?
Back in 2008, in a game between Aston Villa and Portsmouth at Villa Park, Redknapp very nearly had a 50p coin thrown at his head by a home supporter.
The fan missed their shot, though, with the coin hitting linesman Phil Sharp instead. Sharp had to undergo treatment after the incident.
Redknapp firmly believed he was the intended victim of the missile, though he had no idea why Aston Villa fans were so angry at him at the time.
Harry Redknapp slammed ‘coward’ for Villa Park incident
Speaking after the event (via Sky Sports), Redknapp shared his confusion over why he was targeted for such abuse by Villa fans.
He said: “Some idiot has thrown an object and it’s caused a very bad cut on the linesman’s head. I am sorry for Phil and sorry for our beautiful game. I was lucky. Lucky that he was a f—— s— shot. He hit the linesman instead of me.
“Don’t ask me why – what have I done? Maybe it’s because we won here 3-1 last season and they’re not used to losing at home. But who deserves that? I never said a word to anybody. I stood up for about a 20th of the time Martin [O’Neill] did. So I just don’t know.”
Clearly, the incident rattled Redknapp, as it naturally would, and it got him riled up about the behaviour of football supporters in England and what it has done to the sport.
He added: “To have something thrown at you by a coward and moron – it’s a very, very brave person who did that, isn’t it? When people behave like that you hope they catch them on CCTV and ban them for life.
“I certainly didn’t see who did it. I looked round and there was a guy shouting obscenities and making filthy gestures. And there were young kids there. It makes me scared for the game when people behave like that. It’s so sad.
“You come out of grounds these days and see granddads with their grandkids making filthy gestures and sticking fingers up at the coach. I think it is horrific.”
Harry Redknapp used humour to deal with issue
As it happens, it seems Redknapp calmed down long enough to make a joke about the whole situation. Sharing a story from a press conference at the time, Mat Kendrick told the Claret and Blue podcast about Redknapp’s funny comment after the game.
Kendrick said: “Villa fans hated Harry Redknapp. He came with Portsmouth a while ago and someone threw a 50p coin, aiming it at Redknapp, but they hit the linesman.
“We were trying to work out which linesman it was. I think they had the names on the back of the programme. So I asked him, ‘Was it Phil Sharp?’ and Redknapp said ‘Yeah I would imagine it did feel sharp, it was a 50p piece whacking him in the head!’ I was quite apologetic but it was amusing.”
One thing’s for sure, the game is a far less entertaining place without Redknapp in it. It’s a shame he’s not still in management, as there are a few clubs in the Championship who could probably do with his help.
Swansea City may have a shortlist of names, but they should maybe scrap all of that and just bring in the legendary wheeler dealer himself. Unlikely, but it would be fun.