EXCLUSIVEHarry Redknapp on missing out on the England job in 2012, the advice he would give to Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024 and what he REALLY thought of Harry Kane as a youngster at Tottenham

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In another world, Harry Redknapp may be picking up the phone to Gareth Southgate this week and passing on some words of advice and encouragement from a former England boss to a current one.

But, despite a decorated managerial career spanning 34 years, one thing Redknapp never got to achieve was leading his country.

The former Tottenham, QPR and Portsmouth boss was the overwhelming favourite for the role in 2012 after Fabio Capello walked out in protest at the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.

Although he subsequently led Spurs to a fourth place finish, Redknapp missed out on the Three Lions job, with then-West Brom boss Roy Hodgson given the nod instead.

'I would love to have managed England,' Redknapp, 77, exclusively tells Mail Sport. 'Everyone would want to manage their country.

Mail Sport spoke exclusively to former Tottenham, QPR and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp

Redknapp enjoyed an impressive coaching career but never got the chance to lead England

Redknapp was tipped for the England job in 2012, but missed out on the role to Roy Hodgson

'I'm an Englishman, and I'm a proud Englishman, and that's why I'm pleased to see an Englishman managing the country.'

Despite Redknapp's slight regrets, his experience across English football, coupled with stints in the US and Asia, gives him a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed as a coach.

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But what advice would he pass onto Southgate ahead of Euro 2024 if the pair did have that phone call?

'I'd be very positive with this team,' he says. 'No team has got a group of players as good as we've got. Let's go out and take it to other teams, play great attacking football and go and win it.

'If we go and attack, I don't see how anyone would live with us and I can't see too many dangers.

'I think Germany will be OK, they're at home. Portugal look decent and have got good players.

'But we've got the best centre forward in the world, we've got [Jude] Bellingham - and there won't be many better players around in the world than him.

'Even though he's only a kid, [Phil] Foden was probably the best player in the Premier League this year and he's an amazing talent.

'It's a proper good team that really should be winning a trophy and it would be a massive disappointment if we don't.'

Redknapp hailed the quality in the Three Lions' 26-man squad for Euro 2024 this summer

He also urged Gareth Southgate to go and attack in Germany and backed England for glory

Southgate is about to head into his fourth tournament in charge of the Three Lions, yet the England boss remains as polarising as ever.

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Having won 58 of 95 games and taken England to the latter stages of tournaments, to some he is viewed as the saviour of football in this country and a coach who has helped the national team to reconnect with its public.

But to others, the former defender is a negative manager who has underperformed with the talent at his disposal.

For Redknapp, he's somewhere in the middle. 'I think Gareth's done a good job,' he says.

'But he's had fantastic players, let's be honest. It's been an amazing time to be the England manager.

'We're not producing many players in England now, but what we have done is produce a little group of real quality. 

'They're very special and it is now time that we won a tournament.'

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Redknapp is speaking to Mail Sport having partnered with fantasy football game Sorare ahead of Euro 2024, with the 77-year-old dubbed 'the best manager England never had' in some quarters.

Within the partnership, users will get their chance to join Redknapp's fantasy league and prove they could manage the Three Lions by competing directly against him, with each player allowed to pick a team of five players.

And while an alien concept, Redknapp is looking forward to the challenge.

'I've never played fantasy football or any of these games,' he adds. 'I've always been too busy doing the real thing.

‘So this is very different, but it's great fun and I'm looking forward to it. 

'You're always backing yourself to win but anybody who beats me, they could put themselves in the running if Gareth leaves his job.’

The 77-year-old spoke to Mail Sport after partnering with fantasy football game Sorare

Although Redknapp's last official managerial role at Birmingham City ended in 2017, his fingerprints are all over England's squad.

At Tottenham, he signed a 19-year-old Kyle Walker from Sheffield United, while he gave a young striker by the name of Harry Kane his Spurs debut in 2011.

'Walker had everything,' Redknapp adds. 'He just had that incredible pace and power.

'He could play centre half or right back, and even the right side of a three. He's just a complete all-round footballer and a great defender.

'He's also grown and matured into a leader now at Man City so he has done amazing and I'm really pleased for him.'

Yet it wasn't always as clear cut for Kane, who made his Spurs debut in a Europa League qualifier against Hearts in August 2011.

‘I'd be lying if I sat here and said I always thought Harry would be the best centre forward in the world,' adds Redknapp.

Redknapp signed a 19-year-old Kyle Walker at Tottenham (pictured right in February 2012)

He also admitted he never thought Harry Kane (pictured in 2012) would become world class

'I thought he'd be a player, but I was with a Norwich fan recently and he said to me how Kane hardly got off the bench when he was there on loan.

'He went to Leicester and hardly got a game. But he wanted it, he had a great attitude and he worked, trained, practised, and he's just become such a player.

'Harry is a complete centre forward. He can shoot, head it, pass it, finish, he works so hard.

'He has just got everything. He is just a top, top player and a great bloke.'

Free to play fantasy football game Sorare has appointed arguably the best manager England NEVER had Harry Redknapp. Play against Harry in his Rivals League this European Championship, to show off your knowledge from your sofa or your sun lounger and win incredible prizes including a meet and greet.

Join Harry's Sorare league HERE.