Harry Redknapp: 'I needed a new challenge'

Harry Redknapp, manager of QPR looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City at Loftus Road on September 20, 2014
© Getty Images
New Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp suggests that he jumped at the opportunity to manage the Championship club after over two years out of English football.

Harry Redknapp has said that he had got "fed up sitting around doing nothing" after accepting an offer to become the new manager of Birmingham City.

After Gianfranco Zola's resignation on Monday, the Blues acted fast to bring in the vastly experienced Redknapp, who will oversee their remaining three fixtures as they look to remain in the Championship.

It represents Redknapp's first job in English football for over two years, and he has suggested that he is motivated for a new challenge with Birmingham sitting just three points above the relegation zone.

The 70-year-old told talkSPORT: "I got a phone call last night from the people at Birmingham. I drove to London, had a meeting for 10 to 15 minutes, sat down and said 'yeah, I will do it, no problem'. I got home and my wife said: 'are you mad!'

"Birmingham is a proper club. It is a good club. They are in a precarious position and we have got the worst goal difference as well.

"I've gone in there said I will come and do it. The money I am not interested in. I got fed up sitting around doing nothing. I will come and live up here until the end of the season. If I can keep them up then we can sit down and talk about going forward."

Redknapp's first game in charge comes against Birmingham's city rivals Aston Villa on Sunday, before they face fixtures with Huddersfield Town and Bristol City.

Will Harry Redknapp keep Birmingham up?

Yes
No
Yes
80.5%
No
19.5%
Harry Redknapp, manager of QPR looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City at Loftus Road on September 20, 2014
Read Next:
Birmingham appoint Redknapp as new boss
>



You May Like
Recomended from Sports Mole
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Newcastle UnitedNewcastle442771080404088
3Reading44247136362179
4Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds442391258431578
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield43246135553278
6Fulham4421131082552776
7Leeds UnitedLeeds442271557431473
8Norwich CityNorwich441991678661266
9Brentford441891773611263
10Derby CountyDerby441712155048263
11Preston North EndPreston441613156361261
12Aston Villa441613154646061
13Cardiff CityCardiff441611175759-259
14Barnsley441512176363057
15Wolverhampton WanderersWolves431510185254-255
16Ipswich TownIpswich441316154854-655
17Bristol City44149215965-651
18Burton Albion441312194658-1251
19Queens Park RangersQPR44148225062-1250
20Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest44139225970-1148
21Birmingham CityBirmingham441114194264-2247
22Blackburn RoversBlackburn441015194964-1545
23Wigan AthleticWigan441011233955-1641
RRotherham UnitedRotherham4456333896-5821