6 Managers You Didn't Know Were Almost Newcastle Boss

3. Harry Redknapp

When Ashley finally gave Sam Allardyce the bullet in January 2008 there was only one candidate he envisaged stepping into the hot-seat. It's patently obvious why the Newcastle owner was attracted to Redknapp, a manager renowned as a cunning mover and shaker in the transfer market, at the time as he prepared to tighten the financial belt at St James' That and he'd delivered an FA Cup to Portsmouth while sustaining them as a mid-table Premier League club for three seasons. It still didn't make him a popular choice for the post amongst Toon supporters, which was surely a factor in Redknapp opting to reject Ashley's offer and remain at Fratton Park. Accusations that he was devoid of ambition spurred Redknapp on to accept a job offer from Tottenham in October and he guided the North London club into the Champions League two years later. Redknapp revealed to the Daily Mail in December 2008 just how close he was to joining Newcastle. "I was absolutely nailed on to go at one time," he said. "I had really made up my mind to go." Hindsight is a beautiful thing.