On this day: Redknapp had too much respect for Portsmouth to celebrate Spurs win

On this day in 2009, Harry Redknapp revealed he didn't celebrate Spurs' goals in a 2-1 win at Fratton Park out of respect to Pompey.Â
Harry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve ReidHarry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve Reid
Harry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve Reid

And he admitted how an encouraging Fratton faithful reception meant more to him than a victory for his own side.

The Spurs boss was expecting to receive an intimidating welcome on his first return to PO4 since walking out on the club 12 months previous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Instead, Blues fans largely ignored his controversial presence, while some even applauded him and asked for his autograph.

Harry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve ReidHarry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve Reid
Harry Redknapp arrives back at Fratton Park as Spurs manager Picture: Steve Reid

Redknapp himself maintained a low profile, only leaving the bench at half-time and full-time.

He also elected not to cheer his side's goals and opted not to rejoice in a hard-earned 2-1 Premier League win at the final whistle.  

 And afterwards, Redknapp explained his delight on the homecoming which was not as unwelcoming as everyone thought. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: '˜To to honest, even if I had got beat there, I wouldn't have gone home disappointed because that (the good reception) was important to me.

'˜Obviously, I want to win, I didn't go there to lose, but genuinely if we'd have got beat I would still have gone away thinking 'it's not been a bad day'. 

'˜I would have gone out with Sandra that night and not felt bad at all.

'˜It was more important to me that people didn't behave badly towards me.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'˜I didn't want that agro from the people, I didn't feel I deserved it. 

'˜Out of respect, I didn't celebrate the goals.

'˜I didn't want to start jumping up and down. 

'˜I'm not like Adebayor who played a few games for Arsenal, I was there for seven years with these people. 

'˜Even if they had scored at the end and we'd have drawn, I would have still gone home and had a good feeling about the day. 

'˜They are just lovely people. Before the game some by the bench started clapping me and saying 'thanks for what you've done Harry'. 

'˜They couldn't have been nicer. 

'˜These are good people, they know the great times we had.' Â