- Redknapp thought Levy would stay ‘forever’
- Leaves Spurs after 24 years
- Redknapp praises his old boss
Levy departed Spurs earlier this week, in a bombshell announcement that brought to an end a 24-year reign at the helm of the north London club. During that period, he hired 13 permanent managers, with Redknapp managing the club between 2008 and 2012, finishing fourth twice. He took over after Juande Ramos, the winner of the 2008 League Cup, departed, with Spurs only winning one more trophy during Levy’s stint; the Europa League last season.
Redknapp was at the helm when Spurs built a side featuring such luminaries as Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart, and Luka Modric, and he claims that he “never had a problem with Daniel” throughout his time in charge.
Redknapp told talkSPORT: “Absolutely out of the blue. I never saw that coming at all.
“I thought Daniel would be there forever. When someone texted me [the news] I thought no, you’re having a wind-up. That was his life running that football club, I could never see it coming to an end.
“I never had any problem with Daniel. I sit here and I don’t have any relationship with him or speak to him, not that I don’t want to.
“I found him very good to work for. He wasn’t at the training ground every day. He wasn’t poking his nose in as to who should and shouldn’t play.”
He added: “People have to give him a bit of credit for what he’s achieved there. “Okay, the trophies hadn’t come and maybe us managers should have done a bit better and won a cup somewhere along the line.
“People forget they’ve had a Champions League final, they’ve had Champions League football quite regularly in the last 12-15 years.
“It hasn’t been all doom and gloom. That stadium when you go there is mindblowing.
“They should be up there and could be up there winning the title in the next four or five years.”
Tottenham will begin their post-Levy era after the international break, when they face West Ham.
