Manchester United’s fabled class of ’92 are seemingly the benchmark for youth development in English football, but Harry Redknapp reckons he could have won the Premier League title if only he could have kept West Ham’s academy products at the club.
With the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers at the club, Manchester United dominated English football in the 90’s and 2000’s, the Red Devils winning 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League‘s under Sir Alex Ferguson’s stewardship.
While United were able to keep their academy products together, down at West Ham it was a completely different story, with all of their best talent being cherry-picked by the Premier League‘s biggest clubs at the time.
However, former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp reckons that if he could have kept the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick at the club, the Hammers could have won the Premier League title.
“People always talk about Manchester United producing the ‘Class of 92’ but they weren’t any better than the six boys we produced at West Ham,” he told The Athletic.
“If you put those two groups of six against each other, there would be nothing in it.
“Ferdinand went on to win championships, Frank Lampard won everything, Cole won everything and Michael Carrick won everything.
“Then you have Glen Johnson who won Premier League titles and Jermain Defoe who had a terrific career.
“If the kids had stayed at West Ham what a team that would’ve been. That would’ve been six England internationals in one team.
“That was the difference. Manchester United kept their youngsters and that’s what enabled them to become a great team.
“If I kept those six players together I’m certain I would’ve won the Premier League.”
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