Harry is Taylor-made

Former England boss feels Redknapp is the ready for top job

Last Updated: February 9, 2012 9:51am

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Harry Redknapp: The Tottenham boss is the firm favourite to succeed Fabio Capello

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Former England manager Graham Taylor believes Harry Redknapp is the standout candidate to succeed Fabio Capello as national team coach.

With Capello having walked away from the Three Lions post following a meeting with Football Association chairman David Bernstein on Wednesday, the credentials of all possible replacements are being discussed.

Tottenham boss Redknapp is the firm favourite to land the job, with his success and experience at club level marking him out as a leading candidate.

Taylor, who inherited the reins from Bobby Robson in 1990 but failed to lead England to the 1994 World Cup, feels the FA should be looking no further than White Hart Lane for their next appointment.

He believes 64-year-old Redknapp has the required qualities to take such a demanding post and is at the right stage of his career to handle the rigours of leading the Three Lions.

Taylor said: "What I'd say about Harry is his age. If I could change anything I just wish the offer of the England job had come towards the end of my career, not when I was in my mid-forties.

"I just think that taking the England job is far better when you're coming towards the end of your career than when you're a young man. I think Harry is in many respects made for the job.

Capable

"You only have the England players together for so long, they come from different clubs, and they organise and prepare at their clubs in different manners, so you've got all of these different things to sort out and Harry I think is capable of doing that. He has this very good relationship with players.

"The public want him, the players want him, sections of the media want him, so that's how it looks at the moment."

Capello quit his post after seeing the FA go over his head in their decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy, but Taylor feels a change in the dugout heading into Euro 2012 could actually play into the Three Lions' hands.

"In a strange kind of way, having all of these problems I think will pull a squad together," he said.

"I think the squad as a whole have a better chance to do better than many people expect.

"I think there could be a surprise for us here."