Harry Redknapp Recalls How Yakubu Aiyegben Was One Goal From Winning 10 Million Naira Bet With Him

Former Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni was one goal away from winning a £20,000 bet with Harry Redknapp.

Harry Redknapp had promised to give Yakubu £20,000 if he scored 20 goals during the 2003/04 Premier League season after Pompey had been promoted the previous season.

Redknapp told talkSPORT: “He was playing in Israel and came over on trial. The first day training he scored four goals in a practice match and we ended up signing him.

“We got promoted from the Championship and we were in the Premier League. I said to the Yak at the start of the season: ‘How many goals do you think you will score this year?’ Premier goals, not cup goals.

“He said 20.

“I said: ’20 league goals?!’

Anyway the season goes on and he is going okay. Last game of the season we played Middlesbrough at home and we won 5-0. The Yak has scored four goals.

“He comes in after the game: ‘Hey Yak you were fantastic today,’ I said. ‘What a performance, great goals.

“He said: ‘Yeah but I should have scored the other goal.’

“I said: ‘What goal, don’t worry about that you got four goals.’

“He said: ‘But I have 19 goals and one more goal and I would have won your money.’

I went: ‘Oh my god. I didn’t realise that. I would have subbed you way before that. I said no way would you have stayed on the pitch. I would have had you off the pitch straight away.’

“I forgot about the bet and I didn’t know he had 19 goals. I would have subbed him straight away, Jim, there was no way he was going to have my £20,000 off me.