Harry Redknapp claims that Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis branded Robbie Keane “useless” and vowed to tune out of a match at Manchester United if the Irishman started. Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart was even cited as having a walk-on role in the episode. “He says, ‘I like that forward line of yours, [Aaron] Lennon, Van der Vaart and [Roman], Pavlyuchenko. I said, ‘What’s it got to do with Rafael van der Vaart? ‘If Robbie Keane plays tomorrow, I won’t even watch it on television.’ That choice is up to you, Joe,’ I said.

Source: Irish Examiner March 10, 2026 00:18 UTC