Is Harry Redknapp the right man for England?

With Italian coach Fabio Capello set to depart the England national team after Euro 2012, is Harry Redknapp the right man to take over?

England have qualified for Euro 2012 and will enter the tournament as one of the favourites.

Whether the Three Lions end their 46 years of hurt with a major trophy or are home before the postcards, one thing is certain – it will be arrivederci to current boss Fabio Capello.

While there are a number of candidates being suggested as replacements for Capello, Tottenham manager Redknapp is the long-standing favourite.

But is Redknapp really a lock to get the job once Capello steps down, or could another candidate like former Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill or West Brom manager Roy Hodgson get the nod?

The case for Harry Redknapp:

Firstly, various high-ranking FA officials have made no secret of the fact they want to appoint an English manager.

Fabio Capello has already been criticised by some sections of the media for not being fluent in the Queen’s English during his interaction with the press, and it seems as though the next man to lead the Three Lions squad will need to be a bona fide Englishman.

Redknapp has undoubtedly had a lot of resources in his time at Tottenham but they have consistently improved and qualification for last year’s Champions League was a fantastic achievement.

Furthermore, his progression up the managerial ladder from humble beginnings at Bournemouth means he is not an ex-pro who was automatically given a high-profile job to start his career.

He proved himself for a decade before moving on to West Ham, where he remained for seven years before taking the reins at Portsmouth (twice), Southampton and his current club.

The Case Against Harry Redknapp:

Unlike candidates such as Roy Hodgson or Stuart Pearce, Redknapp’s managerial career has been solely club-based.

A job in international management is a big change from the fast-paced domestic scene which has been Redknapp’s bread and butter for the last 30 years.

There are no transfer windows, no week-in week-out competition, and the pressure on the games that you do take charge of is enormous.

England fans and the media have greater expectations than Charles Dickens, and as a man approaching 65, you have to question if Redknapp wants to put himself in the firing line.

Furthermore, if Spurs continue to compete on a top European stage, would he want to change that for a slower-paced role watching the EPL from the stands?

How Tottenham get on this season – combined with England’s performance at Euro 2012 – will largely determine the fate on who will next jump into the Three Lions’ den.