Harry Redknapp breaks silence over ‘German spy’ comment aimed at Thomas Tuchel

Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United boss Harry Redknapp was in the headlines in March after comments he made about England manager Thomas Tuchel at a charity event

Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has said his description of Thomas Tuchel as a “German spy” was a joke that backfired. Redknapp’s comments, made at a charity event, were filmed and shared during the March international break.

“I’m telling you. Seriously, he’s been sent over to f*** us up,” Redknapp was heard saying during the footage. “He has! I’m telling ya, he’s like Lord Haw Haw in the war – ‘We have your best soldiers captured’ and all that.”

Tuchel, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager, became the first German to take charge of the England national side. He took charge of his first matches in March, securing wins against Albania and Latvia, and Redknapp defended the 51-year-old’s record in the dugout while speaking for the first time about his own comments.

“No, don’t don’t go there,” Redknapp told Al Arabiya News when asked about the controversy. “Oh my god, it was a joke, you know, that badly backfired. But it was only a joke.

“Hopefully he can do well with the team. He managed a lot of the players at Chelsea. He’s certainly got talent at his disposal. We’ve got some fantastic young players in this country at the moment.”

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Redknapp was also asked about alternative candidates to Tuchel, who took over following Gareth Southgate’s departure a short spell with Lee Carsley in interim charge of the Three Lions. “The problem was there were no choices,” the former Tottenham and West Ham boss said.

“For me, Eddie Howe was the only choice. Eddie would have been perfect. But, he’s got a great job at Newcastle as well. But I’m sure if the England job came up, he wouldn’t be able to turn it down and I’m sure that will happen eventually.

“In this particular time, we needed to look for a manager and Tuchel was available. And he’s got a very good track record.”

Redknapp isn’t the only English manager to talk up Tuchel’s record. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football in April, ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle also spoke highly of the German.

“I think we have got the right jockey on the right horse at the moment,” Hoddle said of Tuchel, who joined on a deal which runs until the end of the 2026 World Cup. “It doesn’t mean you are always going to win the race but you are giving yourself the best chance.

“Thomas doesn’t give a monkey’s what happens after 18 months … which is a good thing. He’ll do it as he wants to do it. He’s not going to worry about the media, he’s not going to worry about the FA. It will be a case of it being my way or the highway.”

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