[3] A technically skillful and creative midfielder,[4][5] who was also an accurate and powerful free-kick taker,[6][7] Redknapp played for AFC Bournemouth, Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, captaining the latter two.

He is also a cousin of Frank Lampard, and a nephew of former West Ham United coach Frank Lampard Sr.[10] Redknapp was born in Barton on Sea, Hampshire and started his career by joining Tottenham Hotspur as a youth player but turned down their offer of a professional contract, deciding to play for AFC Bournemouth under his father, manager Harry Redknapp.

He spent most of his first 2+1⁄2 years as a substitute or in the reserves, missing the 1992 FA Cup final triumph and only becoming a regular first-team player in the 1993–94 season, at the expense of Mark Walters.

Although injured, as the club captain he was called up by his teammates to receive the FA Cup with vice-captain Robbie Fowler at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

[15][16] He had played 308 times for the Reds and scored 41 goals, becoming a favourite amongst Liverpool fans, who included him at number 40 in the 2006 poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

[17][18] Redknapp was allowed to join Glenn Hoddle's Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer on 18 April 2002 with just a couple of fixtures remaining of the 2001–02 season.

He made his debut at the beginning of the following campaign when he played on 17 August 2002 in the 2–2 league draw with his former club Liverpool's rival Everton at Goodison Park.

[19] Redknapp scored his first goal for the club a week later on 26 August 2002 in the 1–0 league win over Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp played 49 times for Spurs scoring 4 goals in his 2+1⁄2 years with the club before becoming his father Harry's first signing for Southampton on 4 January 2005.

The 31-year-old joined Southampton's fight against relegation on a free transfer and made his debut on 5 January 2005 in the 3–3 league draw with Fulham at St Mary's.

[20] Redknapp was rarely fully fit during his brief spell at the Saints and was not able to prevent them from being relegated to the Championship after 27 successive seasons of top flight football.

At the end of the season, on 19 June 2005, the 31-year-old Redknapp decided to retire from the game due to his constant injury problems and on the advice of his medical specialists.

[23] Redknapp was capped 17 times for England but played just 39 minutes at a major tournament, which was during the Euro 96 campaign when he appeared as a substitute against Scotland in the group stage.