ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE/IF HARRY REDKNAPP is to be believed, then this was a homecoming. He had spoken so warmly of all things Tottenham Hotspur before kick-off that it felt as if his appointment was fulfilling a childhood dream.
"I came here when I was 11 and met Bill Nicholson, one of the greatest managers of all time," he said almost wistfully. "He asked me if I was a winger who scored goals and I said not really. He said: 'The only winger who doesn't score goals is Stanley Matthews and you're not as good as him, are you Harry?' I wasn't."
The success of Spurs head coaches is still measured against the achievements of the man who oversaw the first league and Cup double of the 20th century. Redknapp's sights are set lower - survival will do for now - but his enthusiasm is already proving infectious. Tottenham may still be bottom but it feels as if they will not be languishing there for long.
The announcement made late on Saturday night of Redknapp's defection from Fratton Park may have come as a surprise, but it effectively ended a long-running pursuit by Spurs to secure the former West Ham and Portsmouth manager. Paul Kemsley, the former vice-chairman and a champion of Redknapp, had tried to persuade Daniel Levy to recruit him in the past. Redknapp admitted he was close to joining some 18 months ago, having long cherished the idea of coaching what he perceives to be "a big club".
Redknapp's thinking was clear. There were clear limits as to what he could achieve at West Ham and Portsmouth, and he arguably could have taken neither club any further. Spurs have the set-up to succeed: a stadium, a substantial support, a history and money to spend.
In the end, the temptation was too great, even if his wife, Sandra, may not approve. "She said to me: 'We were talking about retiring, let alone getting into all this again, Harry'," he admitted. "But let's give it a go before it's too late."
At 61, this opportunity is timely. His achievements at Portsmouth were impressive but he had grown frustrated there. The club were moved to rebuff Redknapp's claims yesterday that money is increasingly tight at Fratton Park, yet the reality is that Alexandre Gaydamak would sell the club if he could find a buyer. The fear remained that players might have to be sold in January. Having been installed at White Hart Lane, he might be the one buying them.
There was a sense of wild optimism in the stadium at kick-off and the feelgood factor was cemented by Roman Pavlyuchenko's opening goal, with Redknapp milking the crowd.
Events at Southampton might serve as a warning: hired at St Mary's as the club's third manager that season, Redknapp could not arrest their decline, taking only four wins in 22 league games that term, with relegation confirmed on the final day.
Yet that seemed an awkward alliance. This one seems very much a match made in heaven.
