Harry Redknapp reveals Tony Adams transfer dispute at Portsmouth that led to FA Cup win | OneFootball

Harry Redknapp has revealed hilarious details on Nwankwo Kanu signing for Portsmouth and inspiring them to FA Cup success in 2008...

Harry Redknapp and Nwankwo Kanu will forever be remembered by Portsmouth fans for their FA Cup success in 2008, which was a hugely historic moment for the club.

It was a defining moment in the club’s modern history, and certainly Portsmouth's highest point in the last couple of decades, having been down to League Two not long after. Despite the abundance of elite sides in the competition, Redknapp had them blending resilience with flair.

At the heart of the campaign was Kanu, whose experience of two wins with Arsenal proved to be vital, while his composure and power in front of goal proved invaluable. Kanu scored the decisive goal in the final against Cardiff City, calmly converting from close range to secure a 1-0 victory at Wembley.

In many ways, Redknapp’s pragmatic management balanced defensive solidity with attacking efficiency, allowing Portsmouth to overcome even the strongest opponents in the competition. The victory not only delivered silverware but also firmly cemented Kanu’s legacy at the club, symbolising belief in the magic of the FA Cup.

Harry Redknapp reveals how he and Tony Adams signed Nwankwo Kanu at Portsmouth

There, Redknapp has described Portsmouth's success and revealed details of how he came to sign Kanu to achieve their win.

He said: "Oh, it was a fantastic day, Ash [Cole], for us, you know? And it was amazing, because when I look back on it, I go all the way back to the start of the season. We're looking for — I never had a striker. For the first game of the season, Blackburn at home, I haven't got a frontman fit. No one.

"Right, [Svetoslav] Todorov, who's playing for Yak — Yakubu was injured. Todorov, they said he might be able to play. So, I'm looking through the old Rothman's books with Tony Adams, right? Me and Tony. 'We got to find a striker. Tone, where are we going to get someone? I said, I've got one'.

"Kanu. He said, 'Harry, he's 47. He's knackered'. He said he's had it. He said he's been a great player. He said now he's got to be 40. I said, 'Well, last year, he did well at West Brom.' I said I saw him a couple of times and I said they've gone down.

"They've let him go. I said he looked alright still. He said, 'No, do me a favour'. Anyway, we go on all day and can't find one. That night, I said, 'I'll get his number, and I'll ring him up, 'Kanu, it's Harry Redknapp. Are you going to play this year?'

"He said, 'I want to play gaffer. I ain't got a team'. I said, 'well, do you want to come to Portsmouth?'. He said, 'I'd come to Portsmouth. I'd love to'.

"I said, 'Alright, come down tonight. Stay. We booked you'. I got the secretary. He booked him in a little motel near the training ground. Next morning, he came in. I said, 'Come down, have a medical, have a chat with your agent, Bring your agent, we get sorted'.

"So, he came the next day, Tony said, 'Harry, please don't tell me you. You can't sign him. He's had it. I promise you he's finished'. Now, I'm getting nervous. We got a reserve game that afternoon. So, I tell you what I'll do, I'll play him in that.

"I said, 'Kanu, look, we've had a delay in the medical. But we've got a reserve game this afternoon. I need you for Saturday, next Saturday, against Blackburn. I just want you to play, just for your fitness'. I thought, if he's no good and Tony's right, I'll fail him on his medical, right? Let's say he's got a dodgy knee or something.

"Right. It's easy. I'll get the doctor to say your knee's a bit dodgy. 'Sorry mate. We can't pass you'. We went to have a reserve game, he scores two goals. I've never seen two goals like that. It was ridiculous. Ridiculous. Flicking it over one bloke and over another. Like, could he play.

"So, he scores two goals. I say, 'Tony, I'm signing him'. He went out, 'I know he's played 60. I know he's done alright'. But anyway, I signed him. First game he scored two. We play Blackburn at home, we're 1-0 up at half-time. I brought him on at half-time. Todorov can only play [45].

"Comes on at half-time. Kanu scores two second half and misses a penalty for his hat-trick. We go to Middlesborough on Tuesday night. He gets another two. Now he's got four goals in the first two games. He scores in the cup semi-final. We win 1-0, and he goes into the final, and he scores the only goal in the final.

"And he was still playing about five years later. By Tony's reckoning, it made him 52."

Harry Redknapp reveals what Nwankwo Kanu did during his time at Portsmouth

"A Sunday night, my phone would go about half past or quarter past 11. He knows I'm in bed, don't he? 'Look gaffer, it's Kanu. I have upset stomach. I can't come to training tomorrow'," Redknapp continues.

"Monday. He didn't want to come in Mondays for a warm down from wherever he lived in London somewhere. You know?

"And I said, 'Listen, King, don't keep ringing me on Sunday. Just don't come in on Mondays. I'll see you Tuesday'. A genius, wasn't he? Didn't he have some skill? He was a great lad. What a player."