Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has sparked controversy after calling England head coach Thomas Tuchel a "German spy" and appearing to make a Nazi salute during a charity event in London last week.
The 78-year-old made the remarks when asked about England's decision to appoint Tuchel as manager.
Redknapp's comments came before Tuchel's two wins in charge of England over the international break.
"I don't know," Redknapp joked in a video that has been shared by the Guardian. "I'll be honest with you, I think he's a German spy.
Harry Redknapp joked about Thomas Tuchel at a charity event
Guardian
"I'm telling you. Seriously, he's been sent over to f*** us up."
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth manager then compared Tuchel to Lord Haw Haw from World War II.
Redknapp went on to imagine instructions given to Tuchel, saying "'Go over and ruin that team'" before putting on a German accent, saying "Ja" and lifting his left arm in what appeared to resemble a Nazi salute.
The comments and gesture made by Redknapp were met with laughter from the audience at the charity event.
After making the controversial remarks, Redknapp joked: "I'm going, I've got to go and see my accountant."
This quip prompted cheers and applause from those in attendance.
Tuchel, who was appointed in October 2024, is the first German to manage the England men's team.
He follows Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello as only the third foreigner to take charge of the Three Lions.
The new manager has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure, with England securing a 2-0 win over Albania last Friday.
Thomas Tuchel guided England to back-to-back victories over Latvia and Albania following his appointment as Gareth Southgate's successor
REUTERSThis was followed by a convincing 3-0 victory against Latvia on Monday.
Both matches represented Tuchel's first games in charge of the national team.
Tuchel's appointment initially received a mixed response in England, with some media outlets expressing concern.
The Daily Mail's back page declared it was "A dark day for England [as] Three Lions gamble on a German."
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PAHowever, the German ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, dismissed such concerns as outdated.
"I think it's a small minority that thinks that and I found it a bit outdated," Berger said at the time.
He added: "The side has had foreign coaches before, so to have a foreigner is nothing new. It's a brave decision, but it's a very clear and a very clever one."