Harry Redknapp

While some regard Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp as the archetypal affable Cockney with an alchemist's touch in unearthing players of quality, others see him as an East End barrow-boy with a scattergun approach to transfers whose hit-and-miss career has been marked by moments of controversy.

Born in Poplar, east London, Redknapp the player began his career with West Ham United; he progressed through the youth system to eventually make 149 appearances with the Hammers.

In 1972, the winger moved to Third Division outfit AFC Bournemouth where he spent four years playing 101 games. A short spell back in London with Brentford was followed in 1976 by three years in the United States where his playing days wound-down with the North American Soccer League's Seattle Sounders.

After a stint as assistant coach of the Sounders, Redknapp returned to Bournemouth in September 1982 to become the club's assistant manager. By 1984 he was in sole charge of the Cherries and enjoyed a shock victory over Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup while helping the club escape relegation.

Redknapp wheeled and dealed in the transfer market luring cut-price stars to Bournemouth which became one of the most attractive footballing sides in the lower divisions. He also paid special attention to the club's youth system and developing talent.

The peak of his Bournemouth tenure came as the club won the Third Division title in 1986-87 and spent two seasons as Division Two also-rans; in 1990 relegation back to the Third Division ended the heyday.

A tragic car accident in Italy during the 1990 World Cup, which killed five people, found a seriously-injured Redknapp increasingly disillusioned with the game. After returning from a forced period of convalescence he eventually quit Bournemouth at the end of the 1991-92 season.

He returned to football and West Ham, joining his old club as assistant manager. By 1994 he was the boss of the club he signed professional playing terms with as a 17-year-old back in 1964.

After three seasons of stabilisation and mid-table finishes the fruits of Harry's labours were about to be born, though not before a few ill-judged forays into the transfer market tarnished his reputation. But as at Bournemouth, Redknapp's focus on the West Ham youth system was rewarded by unearthing gems like Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and nephew Frank Lampard.

The Hammers finished eighth in 1998, then fifth in 1999 thereby qualifying for the InterToto Cup, a competition they won resulting in a UEFA Cup campaign in the 1999-00 season which had a negative impact on the club's league performances. But there was some brighter developments as Redknapp gambled and won when he signed disgraced Italian striker Paolo di Canio.

The sale of Rio Ferdinand to Leeds for £18m undermined the club's defence and Redknapp's standing, who was pilloried for disappointing signings Rigobert Song and Titi Camara. The Hammers' board also began to question Redknapp's transfer market acumen and how he would spend the rest of the Ferdinand cash. In the end they split with Redknapp as the 2000-01 season ended.

In summer 2001, Redknapp 'moved upstairs' becoming Director of Football at First Division Portsmouth, but he eventually returned to the dugout replacing Graham Rix as Pompey manager in March 2002.

Backed by chairman Milan Mandaric's millions Redknapp moulded a squad of youth and experience and was named the League Managers' Association's Manager of the Year after guiding Portsmouth to the Premiership in 2003.

Despite injuries to vital first team players, Redknapp worked wonders as he kept Pompey in the top flight, but a storm was looming as Mandaric sought remove Jim Smith as Redknapp's assistant and replace him with Velimir Zajec as Director of Football. Redknapp balked at the idea and eventually resigned in November 2004.

The Pompey fans were devastated to lose the man who brought success, but disappointment turned to fury as Redknapp reneged on a promise not to join hated south coast rivals Southampton.

But the move was ill-fated and, amid rows with club chairman Rupert Lowe over the appointment of rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward as Performance Director, Redknapp failed to prevent Saints' relegation from the Premiership.

The Woodward situation came to a head in November 2005: when Pompey sacked Alain Perri and Redknapp quit Southampton and rejoined Pompey having overseen the relegation of the Fratton Park outfit's fiercest rivals.

Redknapp picked up the nickname 'Harry Houdini' as he spared Pompey from the drop in 2006 and then went about rebuilding the side adding new signings Kanu, Sol Campbell and David James to rejuvenate the side which resulted in a top ten finish in the 2006-07 season.

Allegations of corruption marred Redknapp's 2007-08 campaign, but they could not take the shine off an eighth place finish in the league and an FA Cup final triumph over Cardiff, to bring his first major title and Pompey's first FA Cup win in 69 years.

After a mixed start to the 2008-09 season, Redknapp chose to leave Portsmouth in late October and replace Juande Ramos as the man in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. Bottom of the league and winless when he arrived, Spurs presented the chance that Redknapp has always longed for - the opportunity to manage a genuine big club - and he turned their season around, eventually finishing eighth and losing in the final of the Carling Cup.