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Jamie Redknapp's Profile
BORN: Barton-on-Sea
25.6.1973.
TRANSFER FEE: £350,000 (from Bournemouth, January 1991).
HONOURS: League Cup 1994/5
OTHER CLUBS: Bournemouth.
SQUAD NR: 11
Jamie is the son of West
Ham's former winger and current manager, Harry Redknapp. A highly
regarded young player, he was brought to Liverpool in January
1991 by Kenny Dalglish, just a few weeks before his resignation
as manager. Liverpool paid a fee variously reported as up to £350,000
despite the fact that Redknapp had only played 13 League games
for Bournemouth. Graeme Souness gave Redknapp his Liverpool debut
the following October in a tough away UEFA Cup match against
Auxerre in France. At the time Redknapp was the youngest
Liverpool player to have appeared in Europe (a record beaten by
Phil Charnock the following season). Redknapp's League debut came
in December when he scored the equaliser at Southampton after
coming on as substitute. Redknapp played a total of 10 games in
his first season, but he was in the starting line-up for the
first game of the 1992/93 season and became a regular first-team
choice. However, like several of his contemporaries, he seemed to
be suffering from burn-out through playing too many games too
early in his career. When Roy Evans took over as manager in
January 1994 Redknapp was initially rested as Ronnie Whelan was
recalled to the side. Then, after being in the starting line-up
at the beginning of the 1994/95 season, Redknapp was left out
again to accommodate the third central defender when Liverpool
changed to 3-5-2. However, Redknapp soon forced himself into the
team and formed a partnership in central midfield with John
Barnes. With a settled side in the new formation Redknapp was a
member of the 1995 Coca Cola Cup winning team, his first trophy
with the club. At the beginning of the 1995/96 season Redknapp's
excellent form earned him an England call-up. Redknapp had
already made 18 U-21 appearances, captaining the side on several
occasions and even scoring a hat-trick. However, while on
International duty he picked up an injury which kept him out of
the side for several months. Liverpool embarked on a long
unbeaten run with Michael Thomas deputising for the injured
Redknapp. Redknapp was controversially recalled for the FA Cup
semi-final against Aston Villa, and he kept his place for the FA
Cup final defeat by Manchester United. Redknapp was in the
England Euro 96 squad but he picked up another injury which
sidelined him for the beginning of the 1996/97 season. Tragedy
struck again when he was forced to miss England's World Cup '98
campaign after sustaining yet another injury. Although highly
regarded outside the club, Redknapp has his critics amongst
Liverpool fans who regard him as failing to realise his potential.
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