Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King. Picture credit: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire

Harry Redknapp hailed Ledley King

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has paid tribute to Spurs legend Ledley King and insists the retired defender deserves to remain at White Hart Lane in some capacity.

The 31-year-old has been forced to retire due to a result of his chronic knee injury but will remain with the club in an ambassadorial role.

“There has to be a role at Tottenham for someone like Ledley I think, he is a great ambassador for the club,” he added.

“He is a great role model for the young players, a fantastic footballer and a top class boy so hopefully there is a future for him in football.”

The former Spurs boss believes that King was up there with the best in the world during his prime, but injuries cut short that period.

“When he was at his best he was definitely one of the best centre halves in the world, no doubt about that,” Redknapp added.

“At the end of the season he was struggling, we were struggling at centre half, we had injuries, and maybe he played one or two games too many.

“It was difficult for him at the end and he wasn’t the player we had at the start of the season even.

“It is only right he decided to retire now otherwise he would have ended up crippled and we don’t want to see that.”