Harry Redknapp, 77, tipped for stunning return to football as Premier League cult hero says ‘the game needs him’

HARRY REDKNAPP has been told “Football needs you back” – at 77.

The former Tottenham, Portsmouth and West Ham chief was sacked from his last job, as Birmingham boss, in October 2017.

But ex-Spurs and Pompey midfielder Pedro Mendes believes Redknapp offers “something different” from other managers.

The former Southampton and QPR boss, who never got the England job he craved, has found fame away from the sport in the past seven years.

Redknapp won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here – sparking a string of TV appearances.

But Mendes reckons the 2018 King of the Jungle deserves to come out of the wilderness and reign at another top club.

The former Portugal star told: “I think there should always be a place for a guy like Harry Redknapp in the game. 

“Everything around Harry is different. The way he trains, the way he speaks, the way his relationship is with the players.

“Harry has been out of the game for a while now, and I think he should be back.

“The game needs him, you know. He just brings something different.”

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Redknapp mainly played for West Ham and Bournemouth in his 17-year career on the pitch.

He then launched 34 years in management with long spells at both those teams.

Redknapp bossed the Cherries from 1983-1992, winning the Associate Members Cup.

He then took charge of the Hammers until 2001, guiding them to Intertoto Cup success in 1991.

But his main claim to silverware was at his next job.

He took Portsmouth into the top flight as second-tier champions in 2003 and FA Cup glory followed five years later.

That aside, Redknapp’s peak managerial achievement was notching successive finishes of fourth, fifth and fourth at Spurs from 2008-2012.

Mendes said: “When Harry’s not upset, and he’s not looking for the players to run kilometres and build stamina, he just loves when a player does a trick and scores a fantastic goal, or does something different.”

The 45-year-old singled out ex-Portsmouth playmakers Niko Kranjcar and Andres) D’Alessandro as stylists who Redknapp got the best out of.

Now Mendes reckons it’s time his old gaffer got a chance to help a new generation of exciting players reach their Pomp.