Harry Redknapp was caught on camera joking that Thomas Tuchel is a “German spy” sent to “ruin” the England team while discussing the country’s new manager at a charity event.
The footage, released by The Guardian, shows Redknapp, the former manager of Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Portsmouth, speaking to an audience in London last week. When asked if Tuchel was the right person for the England job, Redknapp responded, “I don’t know.”
In an apparent attempt to entertain the crowd, he then said, “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s a German spy. I’m telling you. Seriously, he’s been sent over to mess things up. He has. Listen, he’s like Lord Haw-Haw from the war – ‘We have your best soldiers captured,’ and all that.”
Redknapp continued, suggesting Tuchel had been tasked with “ruining that team” before mimicking a German accent and raising his left arm.
Telegraph Sport understands that Redknapp’s actions were not meant to reference a Nazi gesture. The remark, which prompted laughter and applause from the audience, came shortly before Redknapp exited the stage, stating, “I’ve got to go and see my accountant.”
He then made a lighthearted comment about his 2012 trial for tax fraud, which occurred while he was a leading candidate to become England manager. Redknapp was acquitted, but the job ultimately went to Roy Hodgson.
Redknapp concluded the segment by mentioning he hadn’t been paid for his appearance.
The event took place before Tuchel’s first two games as England manager, including a 2-0 win over Albania on Friday and a 3-0 victory against Latvia on Monday. Tuchel, who was appointed in October, became the first German to manage the England men’s team and, after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, the third foreigner to take on the role.
