Ex-Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari discusses influence of former manager Harry Redknapp and racism in Serie A
- Adamu Muftawu
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Former Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari has revealed his admiration for former coach Harry Redknapp after playing under the English manager at then English Premier League side Portsmouth FC.
Muntari was snapped up by Portsmouth during the era of Redknapp from Italian Serie A club Udinese Calcio in a deal worth £7.1 million for five-years. He played one season for Portsmouth (2007-08) where he contributed 5 goals in 33 Premier League and FA Cup matches.
Muntari, who cut his professional teeth in Ghana with now defunct Liberty Professionals, is remembered for scoring the winner from the penalty spot in a 1- 0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the sixth round of the FA Cup.
He equally played a key role in the 1-0 final victory for Pompey at the Wembley Stadium over Cardiff City. The now retired Muntari reflected on his time at Fratton Park under Redknapp.
“For us, everybody loved him. Everybody felt or was feeling that he was the most important thing. He gives you freedom to do whatever you want at the same time. If you're not performing well, he lets you know,” Muntari told Flashscore.
"He was experienced and very calm. He's a big top coach and a businessman too. During our time, he did a lot of the signings and transfers and he had an amazing eye to get top players. So he blended us with Sylvain Distin, Sol Campbell, Nwankwo Kanu. I was there with Lassana Diara in the midfield, and then we had Niko Kranjcar and David James, so top top players,” he added.
The former AC Milan midfielder also touched on racism in football after he was subjected to such inhumane acts while playing for then Serie A club Pescara. The now 40-year-old believes the acts of racism in Italian football will be difficult to deal with.
“They can’t deal with racism in Italy. It’s going to be like this for a long time unless they act in a very strict way. In England, you can be suspended or jailed for racism but even with that it is still there. It’s human nature, it is things that they feel about us."
“As a player, I think you don’t have to pay attention to it. If you’re playing football, you go on to do just that. If you’re working you go on to do just that. Wherever you are, just focus on what you do and don’t let someone get to you. Sometimes they bring their frustration to you. If I knew at that time, I would have handled things differently. I was young so I would fight back. That being said, I’m hoping one-day racism will stop," he added.
After the successful 2007-08 season with Portsmouth, Muntari left to join Inter Milan after just one season following his sterling performances. He played at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups in Germany, South Africa and Brazil respectively.
