Crouch - Redknapp destined for England job

Posted Tuesday, December 07, 2010 by PA

Harry Redknapp is destined to become England manager according to Tottenham stiker Peter Crouch.

England star Crouch joked the only way his club boss will not manage his country is if the Spurs players deliberately start losing games.

Redknapp has long been the favourite to succeed Fabio Capello, whose contract expires in a year and a half, and Football Association general secretary Alex Horne confirmed on Sunday the 63-year-old would be on a "not very long" long list when the job becomes vacant.

Redknapp has made no secret of his desire to take charge of his country but has always maintained he will cross that bridge when he comes to it.

But Crouch is in no doubt where his manager's future lies.

"It's inevitable, to be honest," he said.

"He's been fantastic at Tottenham, ever since he came in.

"He took over a side that was struggling and now he's turned them into a team that's playing full of confidence and in the Champions League, and maybe expected now to finish in the top four.

"That's testament to the manager and it's only a matter of time, with him being English as well, that England come knocking on the door.

"But we want to keep him here for as long as possible, so maybe we should start losing a few games!"

An embarrassed Redknapp rejected Crouch's assessment, saying: "I don't know where Crouchie got that one from.

"It's not inevitable, that's for sure."

A Tottenham win on Tuesday in their final Champions League Group A game at FC Twente would simply add to the `Redknapp for England' clamour.

Victory for the already-qualified Spurs would see them finish top of a pool containing the Dutch champions, European champions Inter Milan and German heavyweights Werder Bremen in what has been their maiden season in the competition.

The outcome also is a far cry from being 3-0 down after 30 minutes of their qualifying-round tie at Young Boys.

Redknapp said: "If you'd have said to me when we were 3-0 down at Young Boys of Bern that we'd be sitting here definitely qualified, I'd have thought we were all off our heads.

"So it's been great to have done what we've done but we've got to come here on Tueday and try to finish the job if we can."

While Spurs prepare for the knock-out stages, Twente will drop into the Europa League.

Having taken five points so far, coach Michel Preud'homme believes his side can hold their heads high.

"I think we can speak of a successful debut," he was quoted as saying on www.parool.nl. "We already have five points and, apart from the match against Inter in Milan, we've always scored.

"In short, we have competed. They can't say that about all newcomers."