By Alan Hubbard
January 8 – Sir Clive Woodward (pictured) has joined the call for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp to become the England football manager after Euro 2012.
“I had a year with [Redknapp] at Southampton which I loved,” he told the Independent on Sunday.
“Harry was fantastic and I really hope he gets the England job just as Brian Clough should have.
“He’s an Englishman who’s proved himself and from what I saw of him, he’s ideally suited.
“Working with him was a priceless experience.
“I learned so much.
“The players respect him hugely.
“He has this incredible talent for spotting and grooming talent.
“I hope England do well in Euro 2012 with Capello but after that I’d like to see Harry (pictured) in charge because he is a world class coach.”
The possibility of Sir Clive’s own return to football, rather than rugby, after his Olympic mission has not been kicked into touch.
He confesses a lingering passion for the round ball game and says he was on the brink of becoming the manager of a league club before accepting his Olympic role as Team GB’s director of sport.
“I was approached by two clubs in the lower divisions before the offer from Colin Moynihan [British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman],” revealed the former England rugby player and coach.
“Not a day goes by when I wonder what might have happened had I taken a job in football.
“I was ready to go but I chose the Olympics because they were in London, and it was the right thing to do.”
But World Cup-winning coach Woodward, 56, who will lead the 24-strong Team GB to the inaugural Youth Winter Games in Innsbruck this week before becoming the BOA’s deputy Chef de Mission at London 2012, admits he misses the “buzz” of the changing room and one suspects a renewed offer from football – of either version – later this year might be favourably received.
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