Portsmouth

Portsmouth Football Club
Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Portsmouth PO4 8RA
Tel: 0871 230 1898


Manager Profile

Harry Redknapp
Redknapp's task is to improve on Portsmouth's top 10 finish last season


Overview

Portsmouth have not looked back since Harry Redknapp steered them to promotion into the Barclaycard Premiership in 2003. The top flight's most southern team comfortably remained in the division the following season and were successful in their fight against relegation in the 2005-06 campaign.

Once survival was secured, Alexandre Gaydamak took over the club and has injected several million pounds into bolstering the squad. Last season, Portsmouth come within a whisker of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Redknapp's ability to attract the likes of Sol Campbell and David James as well a number of foreign players such as Kanu helped the club to a ninth-place finish, beating the likes of Manchester United and avoiding defeat against Arsenal.

Redknapp had resigned from his post in November 2004 but was reappointed in December 2005 after a stint at local rivals Southampton. Portsmouth were the first club to stage a Football League match under floodlights when Newcastle visited Fratton Park in 1956.

Club Heritage

The club was founded in 1898 and played its first league match against Chatham Town on 2nd September 1899. A record of 20 wins from 28 games earned Pompey a runners-up spot that season in the Southern League. They won the division for the first time in the 1901-02 season.

In 1927, the club made their debut in the First Division and they went on to reach the FA Cup final the following campaign. It was third time lucky in the FA Cup final in 1939. After the previous two finals ended in defeat, Pompey swept to a 4-1 win over favourites Wolves.

The first of back-to-back titles were claimed in the 1948-49 campaign in the club's Golden Jubilee season. A 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa on the last day of the following season sealed the title again. Pompey are one of only five clubs to have won two consecutive titles since the Second World War.

In 1976, the club found itself in the Third Division and needing to raise £25,000 in order to pay off debts and avoid bankruptcy. Local newspaper The News led a campaign to save the club and the money was raised by supporter contributions.

Premier League History

1999-00 - Milan Mandaric takes over club
2004-05 - Harry Redknapp resigns as manager and Velimir Zajec becomes caretaker manager
2004-05 - Alain Perrin appointed manager, with Zajec reverting to director's role
2005-06 - Perrin sacked and Redknapp appointed manager
2005-06 - Mandaric sells 50 per cent stake to Alexandre Gaydamak in January 2006, then his remaining half to the Russian after the club avoided relegation
2006-07 - Mandaric resigns as chairman on September 21 2006
2007-08 - Striker John Utaka signs in club record transfer of £8.1million