Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has played down speculation linking him with the England job, saying he has ‘not even thought’ about it.
Redknapp, 64, is the favourite to succeed Fabio Capello after the Italian resigned from the post on Wednesday.
Former Roma, Juventus and AC Milan coach Capello stepped down on the same day Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges, leaving England searching for a new manager just four months out from the start of Euro 2012.
Redknapp told Sky Sports on Thursday he was focused on his role at Tottenham, who meet Newcastle in the English Premier League on Saturday.
“I don’t know anything about the England job. I’ve not even thought about it,” Redknapp said.
“I’ve got a job to do, I’ve got a big game on Saturday with Tottenham. Tottenham is my focus.”
“They’ve been fantastic to me, the Tottenham people. The fans last week at the Wigan game, it was incredible the reception they gave me.”
“It wouldn’t be right to them to focus on anything else but Tottenham. My only interest is Tottenham Hotspur.”
“(The Football Association) will make whatever decision they want to make and hopefully it will be the right decision for the country.”
Capello was set to leave the England role after Euro 2012, but stepped down after being unhappy with the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the national captaincy without first speaking to him.
Redknapp said he was stunned by Capello’s decision to resign.
“I was shocked. I was surprised. I didn’t expect that to happen,” he said.
“We knew he was going to leave in the summer but I didn’t expect it to happen now.”
England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce will take on caretaker duties of the senior side for their friendly clash against the Netherlands on February 29.
