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Redknapp sees Warnock as England rival

Neil Warnock has led QPR to 10th in the Premier League © Getty Images

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Harry Redknapp thinks Neil Warnock could rival him in the running to become the next England manager job after his exploits with QPR.

Warnock took over as QPR manager in March 2010 and navigated the club away from relegation from the Championship before guiding them to promotion the following season. Backed by the money of new co-owner Tony Fernandes, Warnock has since led the club to 10th in the Premier League this year after last week's 1-0 derby win over title challengers Chelsea.

The 62-year-old's outspoken character may prove to be a turn-off for many, but in Redknapp, Warnock has a big admirer. Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to take over as England boss next summer after the Football Association suggested it would favour a home-grown manager to replace Fabio Capello.

Redknapp would like to take over from the Italian, who will stand down after Euro 2012, but is likely to face competition from the likes of Roy Hodgson, Martin O'Neill and maybe even Jose Mourinho. Warnock is a huge outsider for the position but Redknapp thinks the former Sheffield United manager is good enough to fill the position.

"I'm sure he could do the job,'' the Tottenham boss said. "If you have good players you have a chance. Neil has done fantastically. To walk in there and take them up in his first full season takes some doing.

"People think it's easy but they've all been trying and no-one got near it. Suddenly he walks in and up they go.''

Warnock has ruffled many feathers during his 31-year management career and like Redknapp, he rarely shies away from expressing his strong opinions in public. That has led many to dislike the Yorkshireman, but Redknapp thinks his record should be enough to merit more praise.

"I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves,'' Redknapp said. "People love to knock him but he must be doing something right. People are always looking for magic formulas in football. He just understands the game.

"He understands good players, knows how to put a good team together and knows players who will do a good job for him. He puts them in the right slots and puts them all together and gets the best out of them.''

After a 4-0 home defeat to Bolton on the opening day of the season, Rangers looked set for a long and hard campaign, but thanks partly to the additional transfer funds brought in by Fernandes, the club now look set for a mid-table finish.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, who signed from Manchester City this summer, has arguably been Warnock's best purchase since Fernandes' takeover. The winger, who spent most of his second spell at City on the bench, is a player who Redknapp rates highly.

"I've always liked him and thought he was a talent,'' Redknapp said. "I didn't go in for him this time, but I've tried a couple of times in the past. I would have liked to have had him, he's a real talent and at the moment he's playing with real confidence. We've only got Aaron Lennon in that position and he's had injuries. That has been a problem for us.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.