As Aristotle once posited, there is a fine line between genius and madness. A fine line Harry Redknapp dared to cross in the West Ham United dugout halfway through the 1998/99 Premier League campaign.
Yes, Redknapp had signed a ‘genius’. But a genius far more renowned, at that point in his career, for moments of insanity.
So much so that, when the news of his signing came through, many a pundit predicted that this would spell the end for Harry Redknapp at West Ham United. No one was more delighted than the manager himself, then, when the signing of a certain Paolo Di Canio proved to be less madness and more masterstroke.
It is easy to forget, given the legacy he would leave at Upton Park, that a disgraced Di Canio actually joined West Ham from Sheffield Wednesday on the back of an eleven match ban for that infamous shove which sent referee Paul Alcock tumbling.
At the time, Redknapp justified a highly contentious £1.5 million addition by insisting that [Di Canio] ‘can do things with the ball that people can only dream of’. In short, he was willing to take the rough with the smooth.
Harry Redknapp explains why he signed Paolo Di Canio for West Ham United
Now, speaking on The Managers’ podcast a quarter of a century later, Redknapp details what life was really like attempting to balance Di Canio’s class with his often explosive combustibility.
“[Di Canio was] a genius,” Redknapp says. “I took a big gamble with him really. I remember the headlines in one of the Sunday papers; ‘Redknapp walks a tightrope with no safety net under him signing Di Canio’.
“[People said] ‘He’ll get Redknapp the sack. Why have you signed him?’ He was hated because he pushed a ref over. But he came, and you talk to West Ham fans about the best-ever West Ham team, you know, [he would be in it].
“He trained, [he was] fit, didn’t drink, ate the right food, came in every day. His body was like… Sunday morning, he would come in do two-and-a-half half, three hours with his own fitness coach at the training ground. He had a guy from Milan who came and worked with him. He just looked after himself so well.
“And then you had Razor Ruddock. ‘Oh, last night I had 12 pints, had three kebabs’! [I would say] ‘Don’t worry Paolo, I’ll speak to him!’.”
Redknapp recalls Di Canio’s arguments with Frank Lampard and Shaka Hislop
While the official West Ham Twitter only ranked Di Canio 11th in a list of the club’s all-time greatest footballers, most fans would agree that only a top-ten berth correctly quantifies his impact and his legacy.
There are, however, as many flashpoints as there are highlight reel moments of footballing artistry. Redknapp remembers the time an irate Di Canio wrestled the ball from Frank Lampard before inspiring a remarkable 5-4 comeback victory over Bradford City – few games sum him up better than this – while also reflecting on what was presumably a rather awkward exchange between Shaka Hislop and his dry cleaner.
“Paolo was special,” Redknapp adds. “He was an amazing player but he was volatile. I mean volatile. We played Birmingham and came in at half-time, they scored right on half-time with a free-kick. Shaka came in [saying], ‘Paolo, you’re supposed to line the wall up.
“‘You’re blaming me?’ He picked up the big Gatorade [bucket], he’s lifted it, his legs are going, and I’m hiding under the table. I had a nice suit on! Bosh, it went all over Shaka’s suit.
“[Di Canio said] ‘I don’t play boss. Takes his boots off. He’s in the shower. ‘Paolo, come on, we’ve got to go out! Come on!’ Finally, we get him on the pitch and we won 3-1!
“The game with Bradford City at home when he sat on the floor. He had three penalties turned down. We’re losing 3-1 at home to Bradford, who are bottom of the league. [Di Canio] comes over, sits on the floor, ‘I don’t play no more’. ‘Come on Paolo, get up, we’re losing 3-1.’
“Suddenly, the crowd starts singing his name. He gets up, scores. Then we get the penalty. Frank is the penalty taker [but] Paolo wants the penalty. We win 5-4.
“Every day, he would come in, suit and sunglasses on, singing. I used to pick his team in the nine-a-sides and put Stuart Pearce on his team. Anyone who might boot him, I would put on his team because if someone kicked him, it would go off!”
Paolo di Canio has unfinished business at West Ham, it would seem. While his managerial career has been on hold since a typically chaotic spell at Sunderland in 2013, the former Celtic, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday ace would jump at the chance to take charge of his beloved Hammers.
For now, however, Di Canio will have to make do with a few gigs on the speaking circuit.
“What a player. A genius. I love him. I saw him last year! I got a message, he was doing something in Bournemouth,” Redknapp admits. “It was Cheltenham festival [the next day].
“He’s cuddling me. He gives me his tie. I wore it next day at Cheltenham, and my horse won!”
