Harry Redknapp lobs 'huge' Rangers success into divisive debate as Ibrox proves key to next England boss plan

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The former Tottenham, Portsmouth and West Ham boss has been talking Rangers.

Harry Redknapp has thrown a Rangers title win into his next England manager masterplan.

The Thomas Tuchel era is dawning for the Three Lions but currently, interim manager Lee Carsley is still at the helm, guiding them to a 3-0 win over Greece this week. Next year, the former Chelsea boss takes charge on an 18 month contract.

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A shorter-term nature to this appointment has former Tottenham and West Ham boss Redknapp thinking about who comes next. And he reckons former players like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard must come under consideration, with England manager debates often taking a divisive tone from the pundits to the punters.

It’s through Gerrard where Rangers get their mention in Redknapp’s grand scheme of getting people like the Liverpool icon into the England set-up now with the U21s. Gerrard is coming under pressure in Saudi Arabia at Al Etifaq and flopped at his Premier League shot with Aston Villa.

He lasted less than a year as the Villans boss but that was earned with title glory at Rangers in 2021, and Redknapp believes that should not be forgotten. He wrote in The Sun: “Thursday's 3-0 win was superb but it doesn't alter the fact that if Carsley wasn't the answer now, he won't be next time around either.

“And the next time might not be that long away. Tuchel has an 18-month deal ? it's all about winning the World Cup. Not about building for the future, about unearthing young talent, the next generation. It's about a trophy and then, after that, quite probably looking for another boss again. So if that's the case, where does that leave us?

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“As Under-21 chief, Carsley should be a shoo-in. Only he's plainly not. The pathway system, the coaching conveyor belt supposed to produce managers as well as players, will grind to a halt. Now it may be Newcastle's Eddie Howe is the obvious choice anyway. He's certainly the only one on the horizon right now, if they want an Englishman at least.

“Yet that doesn't mean there shouldn't be alternatives. Others in the set-up passing on their knowledge, their expertise, while all the while putting themselves in the frame. And there are some obvious candidates, too. Men who never let their country down as members of England's Golden Generation as players but now kicking their heels.

“I know one of them, Ashley Cole, is part of the FA's coaching team and bringing him in on a full-time basis was a great call. But there should be others alongside, like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, if he fancies coming back from Saudi Arabia.

A trio with close to 300 caps between them, who would offer so much to the national set-up. Why someone hasn't given Terry a job is beyond me. My God, what a winner, what a leader! A brilliant organiser, a great talker, but kicking his heels out of the game.

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“And although the other two haven't had the greatest time as managers, there are reasons for that. Yes, Stevie struggled at Aston Villa after huge success with Rangers but he certainly shouldn't be written off for one failure. Every manager has at least one on the CV. Don't forget that Gareth Southgate wasn't a roaring success at Middlesbrough but look at the job he did with England.

“It's the same with Frank. He's taken over basket-case clubs where he never really had a chance, so the same applies with him as well. All three have such great knowledge, you only have to listen to them talk. So bring them into the system. Have them working alongside Carsley. Maybe even have one on Tuchel's backroom team although I realise that's unlikely. But for Heaven's sake, make some use of them. If not, we won't be back at square one when the hunt begins for the next England manager, we'll be a mile behind it.”

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