Harry Redknapp Takes on Jordan

Former Tottenham and QPR boss Harry Redknapp has been appointed manager of the Jordan national team for their next two games.

Redknapp, 69, will take charge of World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Australia later this month.

He will combine his international duties with the advisory role at Derby to which he was appointed this week.

"This is a fantastic step for the national game in Jordan," said Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

"Harry is a world class manager with an internationally recognised record at the highest level."

He has also previously managed Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Jordan, who have never qualified for a World Cup, are currently second in their group in the second of three phases of Asian qualifying for the 2018 finals in Russia.

They were previously managed by former England midfielder Ray Wilkins between September 2014 and June last year.

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Harry May Rejoin Mandaric in Ljubljana

The Slovenian league leaders NK Olimpija Ljubljana are trying to tempt Harry Redknapp to become their next head coach – a move made slightly less shocking by the fact Milan Mandaric is owner.

The Slovenian PrvaLiga club were taken over by the former Portsmouth, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday owner in the summer and have been without a manager since Marijan Pusnik departed a fortnight ago.

Redknapp, without a job since leaving QPR in January, is one of the surprise contenders to take the Olimpija hot-seat thanks to the relationship struck up with Mandaric during their time at Fratton Park.

Olimpija director Ranko Stojic hopes to have a new manager in place in the coming days and admits there is a chance the 68-year-old could coach at the Stozice Stadium.

“In your newspapers you have already mentioned that Olimpija could get Harry Redknapp, and there are some possibilities for this scenario to really materialise,” he told Slovenian newspaper Ekipa. “Of course, there is no need to say that this is mainly due to the relationship that he has with our president – their relationship is our greatest asset. Redknapp also has an offer from the Arab world, but if he doesn’t go there he might come to us.”

The former Tottenham and Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos has also been linked with the Olimpija post, along with the ex-Fulham manager Felix Magath, Ciro Ferrara, Raddy Antic and Christoph Daum.

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Redknapp Returns for Villa Clash

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will be back in the dugout for Monday's Premier League game with Aston Villa.

The 64-year-old former Portsmouth and West Ham boss missed Spurs' games against Fulham and Rubin Kazan after undergoing minor heart surgery.

"I feel fine, I've got more energy than I had before. I'll be on the bench for sure," he said.

"Sometimes you don't realise there's something wrong. I feel better than I did three weeks ago."

Spurs will climb to third in the Premier League if they can beat Villa.

"It'll be a tough game. There are six teams at the top pushing for the top four," added Redknapp.

"There's us, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea - it looks like it could be any one from four.

"And Aston Villa certainly look like they will be the one pushing to get into that top group."

Redknapp admitted he had struggled to watch Tottenham's 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage from his home.

"I felt rough after the game. It actually knocked me for six," he said.

"I'd rather be watching it from the bench than on TV."

Redknapp has been backed by former West Ham team-mate Sir Geoff Hurst to become the next England manager but insisted he will not be distracted by speculation linking him to the national team.

"It was nice of Geoff to say that. I appreciate him saying that but I'm just focusing on getting back and getting Tottenham as high as possible," he said.

"I'm focused on trying to get back in the Champions League because we had such a great time in that competition."

Redknapp Set for Five Week Break

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp could be away from the club for five weeks after his heart surgery.

The 64-year-old initially said he aimed to be back on the touchline in two weeks after the minor procedure to unblock coronary arteries.

But he told Sky News: "[The doctor is] telling me I shouldn't even think about [returning] for at least four to five weeks. I hope to be back before then."

The manager was released from hospital on Thursday.

He had two stents inserted, while the treatment is known as a coronary angioplasty and is classed as a routine procedure.

Redknapp initially predicted he would return for his side's match against Fulham, but later said he would try to remain calm while watching the game on television.

He did not travel with Tottenham to Russia for their midweek Europa League tie with Rubin Kazan - and first-team duties in his absence have been taken up by assistant manager Kevin Bond and coach Joe Jordan.

He is not the only top-flight manager to have undergone coronary angioplasty.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce had the procedure after chest "discomfort" at the end of 2009 but returned to work with Blackburn soon afterwards, while former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness had heart surgery in 1992 but led the team out in the FA Cup final days after leaving hospital.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had a pacemaker fitted in 2004, but was back at work the following day.

Other managers have had more serious heart-related conditions. Joe Kinnear had a triple-heart bypass in 2009, which ended his time in charge at Newcastle, having previously suffered a heart attack during his time as Wimbledon boss.

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier had to have an 11-hour emergency aortic dissection after experiencing heart problems at half-time during Liverpool's game against Leeds in 2001.

In June a recurrence of cardiac pains saw the 63-year-old Frenchman leave Aston Villa after nine months in charge.

Speaking after the procedure, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "We are delighted the operation went so smoothly and successfully. Knowing Harry he will want to rush back but it is important that he only does so when he has recovered properly."