Ukraine want England's Redknapp as manager

Ukraine's football federation on Tuesday said it was starting negotiations with representatives of former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp for him to take the vacant post of national team coach.

Ukraine is scouring the football world for a new coach after outgoing manager Oleg Blokhin announced he was taking over Dynamo Kiev and recently-retired striker legend Andriy Shevchenko said he was not ready for the job.

"The council (of the football federation) took the decision to start negotiations with Redknapp's representatives about him working as manager of the Ukrainian national side," the federation said in a statement.

The federation's head of Ukrainian national teams, Mykhaylo Fomenko, praised Redknapp as a manager who would have great authority with the national team players.

"In all the teams that Redknapp headed he quickly improved the quality of the game and achieved the required progress. Today he is one of the very best English trainers," he said in a statement.

There was no comment from Redknapp or his representatives in the Ukrainian statement.

Redknapp has been a free agent since leaving Tottenham this year following a successful stint that started in 2008. He was a candidate for the post of England manager after the departure of Fabio Capello but the job ultimately went to Roy Hodgson.

Ukraine are contending with a tricky World Cup group that also includes England, Poland, Montenegro, Moldova and San Marino.

Ukraine drew 1-1 with England in their qualifier in Wembley on September 11 and the two teams meet again in the return fixture on September 10, 2013.

They are languishing fifth in the group with just two points from three matches and eight behind leaders Montenegro with a game in hand.

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