Recruitment the key for rookie Roar coach Fowler, says Redknapp

Two months after being screened tutoring Robbie Fowler in the hit UK reality TV series Harry’s Heroes: The Full English, former Tottenham and West Ham boss Harry Redknapp believes the Liverpool legend can carve a successful coaching career in his own right at Brisbane Roar.

Robbie Fowler talks with Darren Davies Source: Getty Images

In the show, the newly-appointed Roar mentor was one of a slightly grizzled brigade of former England stars placed under Redknapp’s wing for one final swan-song against a team of ex-German internationals, which they went on to win.

Fowler, 44, showed he’s still a potent on-field presence in the two-part series featuring the likes of John Barnes, Chris Waddle, David Seaman and Paul Merson, with Redknapp saying: “Robbie was so good I think he can still play!”

But it’s the breadth of his off-field nous and know-how which will either make him or break him as he embarks on his latest venture in the A-League.

“Robbie’s got all his badges and when we were doing the show we talked a bit about his desire to get into coaching ... he’s been very keen to become involved for a while now,” said 72-year-old Redknapp.

“This is a great opportunity for him. I haven’t given him any particular advice.

“I know Robbie well. He’s his own man and will be okay.

“I love Robbie. He’s a great character and a very determined one, and I’m sure that will rub off in his players.”

Redknapp took Portsmouth to 2008 FA Cup glory and Spurs into the UEFA Champions League and knows all about the ups and downs of the notoriously fickle profession after less happy times at Queens Park Rangers and most recently Birmingham City.

He warned that canny recruitment will be key for the fledgling head coach who has been handed an almost clean slate with 14 players exiting the Roar after a dire 2018-2019 campaign.

That, and the backing of the club whose finite resources can’t match those Fowler has been weaned on in the top tier of English football.

“Every coach needs good players. It doesn’t matter how clever you are - or how clever you think you are - if you haven’t got good players, I’ve never seen anybody turn a bunch of bad players into great players,” he added.

“Robbie will need a bit of help (from technical director Shane Steffanuto and assistant Darren Davies) on locally-based players but he’s played in the A-League before (at North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory) and has a good knowledge of the competition.

“He’ll obviously want to use his contacts to bring out from players from England, and what a great opportunity for somebody to go to a great a country like Australia to play.

“There are plenty who would love the opportunity - it’s a matter of picking the right ones and not those who’d be looking to come out for a holiday.”

Last year Redknapp was crowned king of the jungle in British TV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! which was filmed in northern NSW.

He would love Fowler to become the king of Suncorp Stadium.

“Robbie is a fantastic guy and a great player. Hopefully given the right opportunity and the right tools he can become a great manager,” he said.

“But, as I said earlier, it’s all down to the players he brings in.

“You want players who are up for it, and especially with the foreign players he brings in, buy into everything he’s trying to build at the club.

“As coach, he’ll be deadly serious about his football but he’s also got a big personality and knows when to have a chuckle.

“I’ll be looking forward to following his results. For me, he’s one of the great guys in football and I just want to see him do well.

“He knows what’s he’s doing and he’s got so much respect already from people who know and follow the game.”