Redknapp's sombre walk from court

The fist-pumping celebrations were absent for the biggest victory of Harry Redknapp’s career.

A sombre walk through the media scrum at Southwark Crown Court was a far cry from jubilant jigs which welcomed some of his famous footballing triumphs as Redknapp looked exhausted.

In Court 1, the agonising finale to a two-and-a-half-week ordeal had been played out in a flash.

A gaggle of reporters and Redknapp supporters were forced to leave the biggest show in town after they lost the race for seats.

With a packed audience watching in silence, the eight men and four women jurors took their seats at 11.32am, looking remarkably relaxed.

One woman even raised a small smile as she stared across the dock at Redknapp and co-defendant Milan Mandaric.

It took less than 30 seconds for the forewoman to deliver the four not guilty verdicts.

Redknapp and Mandaric, who had been watching intently from behind the bullet-proof glass-encased dock, turned to each other and embraced.

It was a gesture that proved Lord Macdonald QC’s comparison to Hollywood’s “Odd Couple”.

For all the anger they may have still have with police and tax authorities, any differences the pair might have had appear to have gone.

Redknapp left the courtroom as quickly as he could, with one Tottenham Hotspur fan letting out a cheer from the public gallery.

Mandaric, meanwhile, walked up to Detective Inspector Dave Manley and shook his hand and said “thank you”.

Whether he meant it, only he could say.

Outside court, a media pack as big as any other waited for the two men to give their reactions.

Mandaric emerged within minutes with family members at his side.

But Redknapp would keep the pack waiting, having been led into a private room after giving son Jamie a hug.

Redknapp junior had been near his father’s side for every minute of evidence in Southwark. They had a lot to talk about.

In the 30 minutes that journalists waited outside in the sleet, the reality will have hit Redknapp.

The walk he was about to take out of court could eventually lead all the way to Soho Square, the Football Association headquarters.

What has been a disastrous week for Fabio Capello could accelerate Redknapp’s possible path to an England contract.

The freezing air that greeted him as more than a hundred flashbulbs went off will never have tasted sweeter.