'I'll keep going as long as they want me'

Soccer: Harry Redknappcasts his mind back over 1,000 games as a manager and he still has the zest for more

Biggest changes in football

There have been a million changes. We used to train twice as long. There were no fitness coaches or dieticians and the physio was an ex-player. I remember in the medical room at Bournemouth the old physio was Arthur Cunliffe, who played for England, and we got a new ultrasound machine. In those days you had nothing and he kept rubbing it on the players' legs. I looked at the machine and said: "I think there is supposed to be a light coming on." He didn't realise it hadn't been switched on and he'd been using it on the players for three days. They were coming out, saying "that's better". That was how it was.

There wasn't anything about diet, you ate anything. When I played they would have crates of beer on the train after matches and even when I went back as manager at West Ham. I banned all the drinking in the players' bar. They would get straight in there with their mates after a game and I upset a lot of people by banning it.

Average players can earn a fortune now. At the end of the season you used to be two minutes in the manager's office, he'd give you £5 a week rise and you were happy. Now it drags on for months and the players have all got agents. Managers don't get involved with that side of it. Djimi Traore signed this week, he goes to meet the chief executive, Peter Storrie, and I couldn't even tell you what his wages are.

Best signings

At Bournemouth I remember John Williams, the big centre-half. When I bought Willo in we never lost a game. I think he came in with 27 games to go in the season and we won the league. For West Ham John Hartson was a massive signing. We were going to get relegated in 1997 - I took Hartson and Paul Kitson and they kept us up with their goals. Then you had people like Paolo Di Canio at West Ham who was a big influence on the team. That first year here when Portsmouth went up Paul Merson was a massive signing.

Favourite manager

When you talk about great signings Jim Smith was probably my best ever. Jim came in to Portsmouth with Kevin Bond and that was big for me. We had a great time together. That first couple of years we had was a fantastic time - on the football, on the way to football and everywhere. It was just really enjoyable - I loved being with him.

Proudest football moment

It was fantastic to see my son Jamie come through. He played for me at Bournemouth. Kenny Dalglish then took him when he was 17, he captained Liverpool and it was fantastic. He had nine operations on his knee in the end, otherwise he would have got a lot more England caps. I don't know if I'll be around to manage with him - I think he's happy enough working with Sky.

Best pieces of advice

Alec Stock was one of the greatest managers that ever lived. He told me you will never get the sack for having an untidy desk. He said you only get the sack if you lose games and buy bad players. A lot of young guys like to let you think there is some kind of magic formula but the game is about knowing a good player and how they can fit into your team. The game has never been any different; it's about good players. I think the key is to make players feel confident. I often go back to what Bobby Moore said, that in all the time he played for West Ham Ron Greenwood never said "well done". Ron was the best coach I'd seen but we all need a pat on the back.

Greatest achievement

At Bournemouth it was winning the Third Division championship. There was a silly wives' tale in Bournemouth that the town didn't want a Second Division club. But to be the first manager in 100 years or whatever to take them up was fantastic. At West Ham, to finish fifth in the Premier League was great and, for a club that had been up and down, to keep them up and build a team to finish in the top half three times in a row was nice. At Portsmouth it's been good; nothing but success really.

Hardest experience

Going to Southampton was the most difficult time. It was a crazy time and, looking back, it was a crazy thing to do. You do things sometimes in life but I've said before I didn't want to leave Portsmouth in the first place. It was difficult but at the same time I was entitled to go to work. Southampton was up the road, it was a good club and that was why I did it. I had to change my phone number and it was the only time in my life I have had that animosity towards me.

The future

When I started out I thought there was no chance of reaching 1,000 games. I still love it. I think people get carried away slagging players off because they have got big cars or whatever. So what, if they can afford big cars? There's the odd exception but in the main they are great lads - 99 per cent are just the same as they have always been. They are boys who always wanted to be footballers and I've got all the time in the world for them.

I certainly don't feel any different to what I did 30 years ago. Fergie's 65, he's over five years older than me and he's still going strong. You can't beat experience and I've been very lucky. I'll keep going as long as they want me and I'm doing well. I think I'm pretty good at my job, so why should I pack up?

Harry Redknapp was talking to Jeremy Wilson

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