Last updated 11:42, Wednesday, 21 May 2008

SIX months ago his reputation was in shreds and we all felt deeply uncomfortable singing the praises of Harry Redknapp.

Harry Redknapp

He’d been the target of a dawn raid by police investigating allegations of corruption in football and he’d been banged up in a London police station.

Suspicion hung over him like a dark cloud and you wondered if his reputation would ever recover from being arrested as football once again found itself in the gutter.

On Saturday that moment finally came when Portsmouth and their 61-year-old manager rekindled the romance of the FA Cup after one of the most heart-warming of victories in a competition which was in danger of going stale thanks to the Premiership billionaires who control the modern game.

There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing someone who has been forced to roll with the punches emerge triumphantly.

It says everything about Saturday’s game that tickets were harder to come by than last season’s final between Chelsea and Manchester United, and only the hardest of hearts will begrudge Redknapp and his players their moment of glory after their 1-0 win over Cardiff City.

Redknapp is one of football’s most endearing characters, and he proved that regardless of the brickbats flung in his direction, you can’t keep a good man down.

Recognition of Redknapp’s achievements are too readily overlooked.

He is a man who exists in the shadows of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez, and yet given the chance at a big club he could easily be their equal.

Portsmouth have been shrewdly built by Redknapp and they have proved that homely, unfashionable clubs can climb the ladder of success by playing attacking football.

Redknapp showcased his managerial skills on Saturday and he proved himself to be a great thinker, an inspirational leader and perhaps more importantly a man of great integrity.

The chirpy East Ender conducted himself with a real touch of class as he refused to make himself look like a victim for what he had previously described a police witch-hunt against him.

He was also gracious and humble in victory and was at great pains to praise Dave Jones, Cardiff’s players and their fans.

Managers should not only be judged on how much silverware they win. How they conduct themselves and their record in the transfer market are other areas which should be closely scrutinised.

Redknapp has shown himself to be a true football man and a great motivator who can bring repair the damaged reputations of players.

Like all the best wheeler-dealers, Redknapp knows his market

Kanu’s career was dwindling before hitting his 37th minutes winner on Saturday, David James is nearer 40 than 30 and Sol Campbell was emotionally and mentally fragile.

Yet he brought out the best in them.

The Redknapp name was seriously questioned not so long ago, but it was heart-warming to see his career-defining moment.

And even better that the FA Cup final proved it still has a place in our hearts.