Redknapp ready for 'aggravation' of England job

LONDON — Enduring a five-year police investigation and two-week trial before cleared of tax fraud has prepared Harry Redknapp for the "aggravation" he knows would face as England coach.

With the European Championship only four months away, the Tottenham manager is the leading contender to replace Fabio Capello as head of the national team.

With no certainty that Redknapp can be lured from Tottenham, English Football Association executives met Friday to form a shortlist that would likely include other candidates.

"If the opportunity comes, and I get asked, I'll have to consider it," Redknapp said Friday. "I'd be very surprised if I didn't finish the season with Tottenham, that's for sure."

The 64-year-old Redknapp has the skills FA chairman David Bernstein requires of his next coach: strong motivational qualities, experience handling top players and an ability to produce exciting soccer.

Redknapp has led Tottenham to third place in the Premier League. He knows leading the Three Lions would not be easy and is trying to downplay expectations about his abilities in charge of a national team without a major trophy since it hosted the 1966 World Cup.

"Let's not kid ourselves. It's aggravation," he said. "There have been a lot of great managers since Alf Ramsey, unbelievable managers. When someone like Capello finds it hard going, it has to be hard"

Even Bobby Robson found that as he took England to the World Cup semifinals in 1990.

"He went through some terrible periods. He got slaughtered at times," Redknapp said. "We haven't really had too much success, so it shows you what a difficult job it must be. No one has a magic wand."

A groundswell of public support for Redknapp gathered after Capello quit on Wednesday following a disagreement with the FA over John Terry being stripped of the captaincy.

"It's nice if people put me in a position where they think I've got a chance of getting the job," Redknapp said. "It is flattering. Other managers have come out and said nice things and I appreciate everybody's support really."

Redknapp, an FA Cup winner as Portsmouth's manager in 2008, is the "right choice," according to United manager Alex Ferguson.

"He has the experience and personality and the knowledge of the game," said Ferguson, who managed Scotland at the 1986 World Cup. "He has changed the fortunes of every club he has been at."