It’s the Red army... Harry is a shock candidate for Russia job

Posted Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by The Sun

It’s the Red army... Harry is a shock candidate for Russia job
IF THE CAP FITS ... how Harry might look as Russia boss

HARRY REDKNAPP last night refused to rule out becoming the next manager of... Russia!

The 65-year-old ex-Tottenham boss is a shock target for the Russian Football Union and has been put on an ambitious 13-man hitlist.

He told SunSport: “I haven’t been contacted but I’m sure it’s a fantastic job for someone.”

Redknapp, axed by Spurs last month and replaced by Andre Villas-Boas, was hotly tipped to become the new England chief following Fabio Capello’s departure a year ago.

But instead that job went to Roy Hodgson and now ’Arry’s future could lie 1,500 miles away.

Capello, ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez — out of work since leaving Inter Milan in December 2010 — and former World Cup-winning Italy coach Marcello Lippi are also among the high-profile names the Russians want to talk to.

Athletic Bilbao’s Marcelo Bielsa and Russian coaches Anatoliy Byshovets, Valery Gazzaev, Andrey Kobelev, Yuri Krasnozhan, Valery Nepomnyashchy Nikolai Pisarev and Yuri Semin complete the extensive list of targets.

An RFU statement said: “The RFU would like to make it known officially that it plans to hold talks with these specialists about one of them becoming the head coach of the Russian national team.”

The Russians axed Dutchman Dick Advocaat, now in charge of PSV Eindhoven, after their disappointing exit at the group stage of Euro 2012.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was another rumoured to be strongly favoured. But he ruled himself out of the running by signing a new five-year deal on Tuesday with the Premier League champions.

Guardiola’s inclusion comes despite the Spaniard having repeatedly stated he would be taking a year’s sabbatical after opting not to renew his Nou Camp contract.

Bielsa is one of the few contracted managers on the list, along with Dinamo Kiev’s Semin, after he claimed last week he intended to quit in the wake of a bust-up with his board.

But Bielsa has since stated his desire to remain at San Mames, after helping them to the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals last year.