Harry Redknapp Confesses Deep Regret at West Ham Sacking

​Former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has conceded he learnt a harsh lesson after he was sacked by the club back in 2001.

The boyhood Hammer enjoyed a fruitful spell as boss at Upton Park between 1994-2001, having made 175 appearances for the club during his playing career.

Redknapp oversaw the development of a number of ​Premier League greats during his tenure, with Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard all being integrated into the side. However, his time at the club came to an abrupt end in 2001 after an interview in which he publicly criticised then owner Terence Brown.

Despite going on to achieve FA Cup glory with Portsmouth while West Ham were relegated the following season, Redknapp concedes he regrets the manor of his dismissal from the club and says the saga taught him a tough lesson.

“I was choked [when I was sacked by West Ham],” Redknapp told Sky Sports’s Transfer Talk podcast, as reported by ​HammersNews.

“I did an interview with the fanzine and maybe I said one or two things about the chairman, whether that was it I don’t know.

“Looking back, it was a silly thing I did. I was chatting like I am with you now. Obviously, it got printed and Terry wasn’t too happy about it.

“That was a harsh lesson, keep your mouth shut.”

Since his sacking at ​West Ham, Redknapp has gone on to manage a number of high-profile clubs including ​Tottenham, Southampton, Portsmouth and Birmingham.

Some reports suggested that he could be in line for a return to his beloved Hammers following the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini earlier this season, speculation that was made all the more intense by the fact Redknapp is good friends with the current West Ham owners, David Gold and David Sullivan. However, the club instead opted for former ​Manchester United manager David Moyes.

73-year-old Redknapp has been out of football since leaving Birmingham City in 2017 and it remains to be seen whether he will take another job in management.