Jamie Redknapp
Birthdate: 25.06.1973
Birthplace: Barton-On-Sea England
Other clubs: Bournemouth, Tottenham, Southampton
Bought from: Bournemouth
Signed for LFC: 350000 15.01.1991
International debut: 06.09.1995 vs Colombia
International caps: 17/1 - 17.11.1999
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Liverpool debut: 23.10.1991
Last appearance: 30.10.2001
Debut goal: 07.12.1991
Last goal: 27.10.2001
Contract expiry: 16.04.2002
LFC league games/goals: 237 / 30
Total LFC games/goals: 308 / 41
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Player profile
Redders is the ultimate professional, on the field as well as outside it. Jamie trained as a youngster with Tottenham, but it was at his dad Harry's club, Bournemouth, where he started his professional career. Before he even had started a single game, Kenny Dalglish had already paid a visit. Harry let Jamie go for two weeks to have a look, but decided he was better off at least for one more year at Bournemouth. After only 13 first team matches he became the most expensive 17-year-old in football when Dalglish paid 350,000 pounds for Jamie, the fee rising to 500,000 pounds depending on appearances and international recognition. Jamie never played for Kenny, even though he was on the bench against Wimbledon 4 days after his arrival. Only 5 weeks after Jamie had gone to Liverpool, Kenny resigned.
Graeme had faith in Jamie's ability and Jamie became the youngest player to appear for LFC in European competition when he played his first game against Auxerre on 23rd of October 1991. He was wearing his idol's shirt, Kenny's number 7. Phil Charnock broke his European record a year later. Jamie scored in his first Premier league match against Southampton a few weeks later, but only played a handful of games his first season. Jamie played 136 games the next three seasons. He was voted the best player in the 1994/95 season by the International supporters club. Redknapp was the captain of the u-21 national team that won the Toulon tournament in France in the summer of 1994. He played his first game for the A-team against Colombia on the 6th of September 1995, which inspired Rene Higuita's scorpion kick save after Redknapp's shot. At that point Redknapp was in inspired form for Liverpool, scoring with two long distance shots in two games in a row against Spartak Vladikavkaz and Blackburn. He was then chosen for England to face Switzerland on 15th of November. Seven minutes into the game, he picked up a hamstring injury. 4 months later he was back in the starting line-up, but more disappointment awaited. Liverpool lost to Man Utd in the FA cup final and in Euro 96, Redknapp got injured again playing the Scots.
Jamie was back in September the following season. He stayed there two months, but lost his place, and in his absence Liverpool built up a five point lead at the top. 1997 started badly for Liverpool and Jamie regained his place. Again his injury jinx struck, now in a friendly international game against South Africa on the 24th of May. He was out for 5 months. Jamie slowly regained his old form and was looking forward to the 1998 World cup. He got injured against Coventry only 2 months prior to the competition and that meant the end of the season and the World cup. Houllier was at Evans' side in 1998/99 and Redknapp's career was soon flying high again, in his best form for 3 years. He played 39 matches and scored 10 goals. In the summer of 1999, he made Redders captain. On the 20th of November 1999, he injured himself against Sunderland and spent the next 4 months on the sidelines.
His return was special as he scored the winning goal against Newcastle after coming on as a sub. Two days later he played with the reserves against Sheff Wed and guess what, he got injured once more, this time oout for a month. Why not rest him when Liverpool play teams beginning with letter S. Sunderland, Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland, and Sheffield Wednesday. The S-curse had struck again.
Jamie didn't play a single match in 2000/2001 due to series of injuries over the years that had taken their toll and when he returned in 2001/2002, he lasted only 8 games before he was injured again. Jamie joined his old schoolboys team Tottenham later that season after 10 years at Liverpool. As a mark of respect for him at the club, Liverpool let him pick up the FA cup in 2000/2001 even though he hadn't participated. Jamie, in turn denied a testimonial at Liverpool, because he didn't feel he had played enough the last seasons to deserve it. Jamie was truly one of Liverpool's greatest servants.
Jamie took over the captaincy at Tottenham and only completed 49 games and 4 goals in 2 1/2 years. He went on a free to Southampton but only stayed there for five months under the guidance of his father Harry. Jamie was forced to retire at 32 in the summer of 2005 due to persistent injury problems throughout his career.
Since retiring as a player, Jamie was reportedly approached by Chelsea to become assistant to Avram Grant in 2007 but nothing substantial came of it. A year later, however, he did go to Chelsea to coach their reserve team for two days a week while he was studying to take his UEFA coaching badges. The vacancy arose when Brendan Rodgers was released by Chelsea to become the manager of Watford.
Redknapp is also one of a plethora of former Liverpool players who have been frequently seen on television or heard on radio as a football summariser/analyst. In Jamie's case this has for the most part been as a Sky Sports pundit.