By Tom Degun in London
November 9 – Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he is interested in taking charge of the Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The 63-year-old is one of the favourites to land the role alongside England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has previously been approached by no less than London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.
The discussion between Coe and the Manchester United legend took place two years ago but Ferguson stated he would not commit to the job so far in advance of the tournament.
However Redknapp, who is also one of the favourites to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager when the Italian steps down in 2012, insisted he would be interested in taking on the role but confessed he had no idea whether the British Olympic Association (BOA) were considering him for the post.
Redknapp said: “Of course (I would be interested in the job) anybody would be, wouldn’t they?
“But, suddenly, it’s ‘Harry wants to be manager of whatever’.
“Never at any stage has it entered my mind.
“I don’t know who selects it, how it gets selected.”
The Great Britain football team for London 2012 remains a controversial topic as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have so far refused to provide players for the team, which looks set to be made up only of English players.
BOA chief executive Andy Hunt told insideworldfootball‘s David Owen that he still hoped Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would make their players available, adding: “I would hope for all of our home nations to be represented and given the opportunity to be potentially selected, but selection will always be on merit won’t it?”
Hunt added that there is no deadline in place to appoint a manager.
The Olympic football competition has an age limit of 23 with three over-age players permitted.
The London 2012 competition will take place at some of the biggest football stadiums in the country, including Wembley and Old Trafford, and see Argentina looking to defend their title after a side featuring Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi claimed victory at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
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