Harry Redknapp should have been the next Manchester United manager after Sir Alex Ferguson retired, former Tottenham star Sandro has claimed.
United have endured a turbulent time since the legendary boss stepped down in the aftermath of winning the Premier League in 2013.
In the subsequent 12-and-a-half years, United have won only five trophies – two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Europa League – and Ruben Amorim is the sixth permanent appointment post-Ferguson, excluding caretaker and interim bosses.
David Moyes was the man tasked with filling Ferguson’s void, but Sandro felt that was the wrong choice.
‘Yes, 100 per cent (Redknapp could have fixed Man United’s problems after Ferguson),’ Sandro told BOYLE SPORTS who offer the latest football betting.
‘They managed in the same kind of way. A big image, a big impact in the dressing room, and you need to have that.
Former Tottenham star Sandro has claimed Harry Redknapp should have replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as Man United manager in 2013
United have struggled ever since the legendary boss retired at the end of the 2012-13 season
‘When you speak, players listen. Everybody respected Harry but you could also have a joke with him and he would make everybody laugh too.
‘Harry could talk well to the media but also his tactics were good and he could change things during a match on the pitch too. He was a manager that could do everything.’
Moyes was ultimately sacked in April 2014 with United languishing in seventh – and Louis van Gaal replaced the now-Everton boss.
At the time of Ferguson’s retirement, Redknapp, who signed Sandro for Spurs in 2010, was in charge of QPR.
The 78-year-old was unable to save the Hoops from relegation, although he did take them up from the Championship in the following year, until he left when they were 19th on their return to the top flight.
And Sandro, who played 106 times for Spurs before joining Redknapp at QPR in 2014, was full of praise for his style of management.
‘I remember, when I arrived in England, I was on the bench and at half time Harry took a player off,’ the Brazilian added. ‘In Brazil, this is deeply disrespectful to a player, to take them off at the break but Harry was not afraid.
‘He told the guys “we are not having a good game, sorry but I’m changing the team and I need to change it. I am doing this for the team.” He was a coach who would make the big decisions. And we won that game. I liked it.
Sandro played under Redknapp at both Spurs and QPR and he was full of praise for him
‘He would come and talk to you as a player. You have to have that. I remember he would say to me: “Sorry Sandro, you’re going to play the next game. I will play you.” That’s how you manage players. If you give a player something like that, the player will let you do something else.’
Sandro continued: ‘I completely agree that Harry Redknapp could have done a good job at Manchester United because he had the right style of management.
‘Their fans want to play and attack. Harry would play that way with good tactics in a back four.
‘We were always balanced at Tottenham. Teams need to have that balance. Attack and defend. We were a team. Not two teams.’
After leaving QPR in February 2015, Redknapp managed Jordan for two matches in March 2016, before he oversaw a 13-game stint at Birmingham City the following year. He has not managed professionally since.
