Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp returns to football with old club Bournemouth

Harry Redknapp (GETTY IMAGES)

Harry Redknapp today returned to football, less than three months after he was sacked as manager of Tottenham.

The 65-year-old, who has been working as a pundit for the BBC, has accepted an advisory role at Bournemouth.

Redknapp will offer advice and expertise to the club where he started his managerial career back in 1983 and spent nine years before moving on to West Ham.

During that time he saved them from relegation, beat FA Cup holders Manchester United in one of the great shocks of the competition and saw the Cherries promoted from the Third Division as champions in the 1986/87 season.

Before Redknapp departed for Upton Park, Bournemouth were relegated back to the third tier, but his time on the south coast has always been viewed as a successful one.

Chairman Eddie Mitchell told the club's official website, afcb.co.uk: "I met Harry for a chat this morning and he offered to come in on a voluntary basis.

"He still has a passion for the club and for football and he's got too much to offer for us to let him slip through our fingers.

"It's been in my mind for quite some time to get him involved, and the timing seems to be perfect for us to tap into his knowledge."

Redknapp will get to work straight away, travelling to Huish Park tomorrow for Bournemouth's League One clash against Yeovil.

Yet the former Southampton and Portsmouth manager will not have an official title at Dean Court.

The move will see him team-up with Paul Groves and Shaun Brooks once more, both of whom were among Portsmouth's backroom staff when Redknapp guided them to FA Cup glory in 2008.

Mitchell is confident manager Groves and his assistant Brooks will be able to work alongside their former boss.

"Paul and Shaun will still have the final say on all football matters, there’s no doubt about that. They’re very astute people and they’re not above listening to anyone, and I’m sure they can learn from him.
 

"They have both worked with him before and I think there’s only person who would be able to get on that coach tomorrow without Paul and Shaun rejecting the idea, and that one person is Harry."

It is expected Redknapp, who was heavily touted to become the new England manager at the end of last season, will continue to work with the BBC, combining his analysis job with his new role.