An evening with Harry Redknapp

The eight-player United quiz

I have been lucky enough to meet some incredible people, but thanks to being part of The Sporting Club, I got to spend the evening with Harry Redknapp. I can genuinely say he is one of the nicest people I have ever spent time with.

I wanted to start off with a fun test. As a United fan, I asked him to name the eight players he had managed who had also played for United. Remember, this is a man who managed over 600 players.

He did not hesitate. Rio Ferdinand. Michael Carrick. Andy Cole. Teddy Sheringham. Louis Saha. Fraizer Campbell. Ravel Morrison. Park Ji-sung. Every single one.

To me, that was not just an incredible memory. It said everything about the relationships Harry built with his players.

What Harry Redknapp said about Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand

That brought us onto Michael Carrick, who Harry gave his debut at West Ham. He described him as a quiet lad, desperate to learn, and an incredible person. You could tell how proud he was of everything Michael has gone on to achieve.

Then we spoke about Rio Ferdinand. Harry gave Rio his debut at West Ham and, nearly 20 years later, signed him again at QPR. Rio has become one of the most respected and trusted voices in football today, and someone I personally look up to. You cannot help but wonder how much Harry's belief in him helped shape the person he became.

The Ravel Morrison conversation

The conversation that stayed with me most, though, was about Ravel Morrison. If you know Ravel Morrison, you will know just how unbelievably talented he was. Harry spoke so highly of him as both a player and a person, and it reminded me just how important it is to have someone who believes in you, especially when things are not going your way.

For me, that sums up exactly the kind of person Harry Redknapp is.