Harry Redknapp has gained a reputation over the years not only for his canny knack of getting excellent value for money in the transfer market, but also for grooming young players and turning them into accomplished footballers.

Redknapp came through the ranks at West Ham United as a winger, and represented the club 149 times in the top flight before moving to Bournemouth in 1972. He spent four years on the south coast and also had a very brief stint with Brentford, playing just one match.

It was in management where Redknapp would truly make his name and with some experience as the assistant manager of North American Soccer League side Seattle Sounders already under his belt, he took the same role at Bournemouth under David Webb at the beginning of the 1982/83 season. Redknapp was appointed as manager when Webb's successor Don Megson was sacked in late 1983 with the club near the bottom of the Third Division.

Redknapp saved Bournemouth from relegation, and in the same season his team caused one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of all time as they defeated Manchester United in the third round. Promotion to the Second Division was secured in the 1986/87 campaign with a club record 97 points. He kept the club in the division for two years before suffering relegation in the third season up. While at Bournemouth he helped bring through his son Jamie who went on to become an England international.

The East Londoner resigned in 1992 and became the assistant manager to Billy Bonds at West Ham United for the beginning of the 1992/93 season. After over year in that role, Redknapp took the top job when Bonds left in August 1994. While with the Hammers, Redknapp was key to the development of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and his nephew Frank Lampard, all current England internationals. Throughout his time at Upton Park, Redknapp kept West Ham in the FA Carling Premiership, and even helped the club to a fifth place finish in 1998/99. That ensured qualification for the Intertoto Cup which West Ham won the following season to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

May 2001 saw Redknapp depart West Ham but he was quickly back in the game, being appointed director of football at Portsmouth the following month. But the club's poor form in the First Division under Graham Rix saw Redknapp step into the hot-seat in March 2002. The following season he led them to promotion, and kept them in the top flight in 2003/04. However, in late 2004 he resigned after a disagreement with owner Milan Mandaric.
Redknapp's passion for the game is evident from his inability to keep away from it and he was soon back in the fray, this time taking over at Portsmouth's local rivals Southampton within two weeks. He could not, however, keep the Saints in the top flight and they were doomed to spending the 2005/06 season in the Championship. Redknapp remained at the helm but left in December of that campaign. Within a week, he was back at Pompey.

The 61-year-old looked as though he may suffer the same fate of relegation that season but a fine late run ensured the club's safety. Redknapp has since achieved superb ninth and eighth placed finishes in the Premier League. Last season, he also guided Pompey to their first FA Cup in 69 years with a 1-0 win over Cardiff City at Wembley.

1997: Manages 100th Premier League match - (West Ham United 0-1 Nottingham Forest, 1st January)
2007: Manages 400th Premier League match - (Portsmouth 2-1 Newcastle United, 14th April)
2008: Celebrates 150th Premier League win - (Portsmouth 2-0 Wigan Athletic, 29th March)