Harry Redknapp once turned down Arsenal legend to sign his 'useless' mate instead

talksport.com, 21 July 2023, 07:00
Harry Redknapp is well-known for his ability to spot talent, but when he first started out in management, he missed a real gem of a player.

If Harry rates you then the chances are you'd be following him to various club - looking at you, Niko Krancjar.

At the age of 76, he has decided his time in the dugout is over after a career spanning Tottenham, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham and more.

But it all started in 1983 when he became manager of Bournemouth and, after three years of management, he snapped up a young Carl Richards from Enfield Town.

However, while Richards would toil at Bournemouth, his mate proved to go on and have a fantastic career - Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

Writing in his book 'Always Managing', Redknapp held nothing back when speaking about the duo.

READ MORE ON ARSENAL

Arsenal release 'shock-yellow' away kit and fans dub it 'worst in years'

EDGE

O'Hara tells Arsenal fans to 'calm down' with title predictions after recent signings

He wrote: "I bought Carl for £10,000, went to pick him up from Enfield and while he went in to say goodbye to his manager, he left me with his mate.

"'What are you signing him for?' said this kid. 'I'm 10 times better than him. I've got 26 goals this season, he's only got 12. I'm different class than him. Why don't you sign me?'

"I was worried. 'I can't buy you, I'm buying him,' I told Carl's mate, 'but I'll keep an eye out for you, don't worry."

"So we took Carl and he was absolutely useless. He could run, but that was about it. We played about six games, couldn't win one. Carl was terrible.

Most read in Football

Onana to Man United confirmed, Silva set for Fulham exit, Ten Hag wants Maguire

Man United confirm signing of 'crazy' Onana, who Guardiola described as a midfielder

Ex-Man United and Everton star says war means he can't watch Premier League

West Ham in advanced talks to sign Man City wonderkid

"After about four games of this, he came to see me. 'I've got a mate,' he said. 'He was asking if he could have a trial. He's a striker, like me.'

"'And is he as good as you, Carl?' I asked, suspiciously. 'No, he's not as good as me,' he said, 'but he's decent.'

"'Well, tell him not to f***ing bother then,' I snapped, and that was the end of it."

"The following Saturday, we went to play Crystal Palace. 'My mate, the one who wanted a trial, he's playing for Palace today,' said Carl. 'Oh good,' I thought. 'No problem there then.'

"Anyway, three goals later I realised Carl wasn't much of a scout, either. His mate's name? Ian Wright, who went on to score 238 league goals."

Wright had an incredible career in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and West Ham.

He won the Premier League with the Gunners in 1998 and scored 185 times for them.

The former England international has also been recognised by the Premier League, who added him to the Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Top News

27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Ben Davies will not be available for Sunday's Premier League fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Radu Dragusin is still a doubt. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by four places in the Scottish Premiership table, St Mirren are favourites to close out the year with a positive result against Dundee in Sunday's gameweek 20 clash at the SMISA Stadium. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to end an eventful year on a high, Napoli's quest to reclaim the Serie A title continues on Sunday, when they welcome Venezia to Stadio Maradona. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Surely out of the Premier League title picture and fighting an uphill battle to even qualify for the Champions League, Manchester City hope to close out a mixed 2024 on a high when they visit Leicester City on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still going from strength to strength under Arne Slot's wing, Liverpool round off 2024 on Sunday evening with a Premier League trip to West Ham United. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal should not struggle to break down Ipswich Town in the manner that they did against Everton at the Emirates Stadium, Gunners expert Charles Watts has told Sports Mole. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira is hopeful that his club will be able to keep hold of Matheus Cunha in January amid the growing speculation surrounding his future. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mid-table duo Udinese and Torino will meet on Sunday afternoon, fighting it out for maximum points from their final Serie A fixture of 2024. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly not prepared to pay £50m for Marcus Rashford, with the French champions potentially pulling out of the race for the Manchester United forward. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Brentford (Friday, 7.30pm) Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brentford to the Amex in one of two games being played after Boxing Day in the Premier League. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League collapse of the 2000s in their shock 2-1 home loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah hit yet another Premier League goalscoring landmark as Arne Slot's league leaders fought back to defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to suspension for their trip to West Ham United in the Premier League this weekend. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team in the Premier League with their unbeaten home record still intact, Arsenal seek to avoid a festive giant killing in Friday's Emirates encounter with Ipswich Town. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Manchester United attacker Antony has confirmed that there is "concrete interest" in the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's defensive crisis worsened in their 1-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, as Djed Spence was sent off while Radu Dragusin sustained an ankle injury. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end 2024 on top of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC will tackle close challengers Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer broke a 23-year-old club goalscoring record set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the Blues' shock 2-1 Premier League defeat to West London derby rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 away from home on Thursday afternoon and spoiled Saints manager Ivan Juric's first game in charge of the club. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have shot back into third place in the Premier League table thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a 1-0 win over former club Tottenham Hotspur. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Champions League hopefuls Bournemouth were held to a 0-0 draw away from home by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrigo Muniz scored a last-gasp winner as Fulham sensationally came from behind to defeat West London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to arrest their underwhelming Primeira Liga results before Christmas, Estoril Praia and Moreirense clash at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday, keen to notch important victories in the gameweek 16 encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Birmingham's Boxing Day clash with Burton had to be temporarily suspended due to a medical emergency at St Andrew's. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne certainly wasn't in the festive spirit after walking down the tunnel immediately after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton.