Jul 13

Tottenham extend manager Harry Redknapp’s contract until 2013

• Spurs reward Harry Redknapp for Champions League place
• Premier League manager of the season took club to fourth

Harry Redknapp has signed a contract extension with Tottenham Hotspur that ties him to the Premier League club until 2013.

The Spurs manager’s current deal was due to expire next year but included an option for a further two years which the club have now exercised.

“The club is delighted to announce that we have extended the contract of manager Harry Redknapp until 2013,” read a statement on the club website.

“Harry guided the side to fourth place in his first full season with the club, our highest league finish since the Premier League’s inception, with the prospect of competing in the Champions League for the first time this coming campaign.

“The achievement earned him the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Season award.”

Redknapp took over at Spurs in October 2008 with the team bottom of the table, having picked up only two points from their opening eight games.

The turnaround under his guidance was capped when Redknapp led the club into the Champions League for the first time in May, their place among Europe’s elite secured with a dramatic win over Manchester City in their penultimate game of the season.

Tottenham HotspurHarry Redknappguardian.co.uk

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Feb 28

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Everton | Premier League match report

A virus has been sweeping through the Tottenham Hotpsur camp but they recovered more swiftly than Everton might have anticipated and this win leaves them looking in rude good health back in fourth position in the Premier League.

These teams had contrasting fortunes in Europe in the week and seemed to carry that form into the league, at least in the first half. It was Everton’s first defeat at White Hart Lane since 2005 and they had won on their last three visits here.

But it was far from easy for Spurs and they looked vulnerable after conceding a soft goal early in the second half which halved their 2-0 advantage at half-time.

Spurs took the lead after 11 minutes when Jermain Defoe crossed from the right for Roman Pavlyuchenko to slide in on the far post. It was one of few contributions from leading scorer Defoe and he was substituted halfway through the second half. Spurs appeared to have a comfortable hold on the game when they went 2-0 up in the 28th minute, Luke Modric receiving the ball from Niko Kranjcar to beat Tim Howard with a delightful, dipping shot which entered the goal via the underside of the bar.

But towards the end of the first half Everton gave warnings that they were still in the match and Jack Rodwell should have done better when he sent a free header wide from eight yards.

The Toffees did pull a goal back in the 55th minute when Yakubu Ayegbeni exploited hesitation by the entire Spurs defence. After that Everton missed a number of chances to equalise. Steven Pienaar intercepted a pass and raced through with only the goalkeeper to beat in the 73rd minute and Phil Jagielka sent another free header over in the 83rd.

But the best chance was spurned by substitute Landon Donovan. Rodwell crossed to him and he was unmarked beside the far post but still shot wide.

Premier LeagueTottenham HotspurEvertonPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk

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Feb 15

Football Weekly podcast: FA Cup review and Champions League preview

Calm down. Paul MacInnes is in the presenter’s seat all week and on the latest Football Weekly, he’s joined by proper journalist Owen Gibson, compulsive match debater Rob Smyth, and serial alphabet dater John Ashdown to look back on the weekend’s action.

We begin with the FA Cup, where Neil Warnock once more blew his top following Crystal Palace’s draw with Aston Villa, and yet more more attendances, in particular Tottenham Hotspur’s draw at Bolton Wanderers.

From there, we show the Championship, League One, and League Two some love, taking in everything from Newcastle United’s new favourite son; the soaring Norwich City Canaries; and a predicatbly patronising pat on the head for good old Rochdale.

Also in the podcast, we look forward to the return of the Champions League. Can Manchester United break their hoodoo against AC Milan? Will Arsenal get the better of Porto? And what’s all this about play-offs for the teams finishing fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the Premier League for the final place at Europe’s top table?

Finally, Sid Lowe brings us news of Barcelona’s first league defeat. After Real Madrid closed the gap at the top of La Liga to just two points, have we finally got a genuine title race on our hands?

Have a listen and post your feedback on the blog below – and do play nicely, please. For more, we’re also on iTunes, Facebook, and Twitter, and if you enjoy this type of thing, get your daily dose of fooball with our tea-time email, The Fiver.

Paul MacInnesBen GreenRob SmythOwen GibsonJohn AshdownSid Lowe

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