November 27 – Former England manager Terry Venables, one of the most colourful and charismatic coaches of recent decades, has died aged 80 after a long illness.
Tactically innovative with an outgoing personality and endearing wit, Venables led England to the European Championship semifinals in 1996 after winning trophies at club level with Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur in a stellar managerial career.
The English Football Association said Venables left behind a legacy that “captured the imagination of many and enhanced the global reputation of the English game.”
Former England captain Gary Lineker, who played as a striker under Venables at Barcelona and Tottenham, described him as “the best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for.”
Venables played for Chelsea, Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace – all clubs in the capital – in a 16-year senior career that included two appearances for England in the mid-1960s.
Palace and QPR were the first teams ‘El Tel’, as he was nicknamed, managed before he moved to Barcelona for a spell from 1984-87 where he led the team to the Spanish league title in 1985 – its first for 11 years. He also led Barca to the European Cup final in 1986, where they lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.
As Tottenham manager from 1987-91, he won the FA Cup in what proved to be his final season at the club.
His proudest moment with England was at Euro 96 on home soil where a talented team – containing the mercurial Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer – lost to Germany in a penalty shootout in the semifinals. England’s 4-1 win over the Netherlands in the group stage has gone down as one of the national team’s most sublime performances.
“He was an unbelievable personality and character, larger than life,” former England right back Gary Neville wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He was someone who was a players’ man, looked after his players, stood up for his players in big situations.”
Venables was hired by Australia in 1997 but failed to qualify the team for the 1998 World Cup after losing in a playoff to Iran.
Tottenham’s current Australian coach Ange Postecoglou commented: “The biggest testament is that anyone who I have ever come across that has worked with him will say he is by far the best coach, manager and tactician they have come across.”
Current England manager Gareth Southgate described Venables as “capable of handling everyone from the youngest player to the biggest star.”
“He was open minded, forward thinking, enjoyed life to the full and created a brilliant environment with England that allowed his players to flourish and have one of the most memorable tournaments in England history,” said Southgate, who missed a penalty for England in the 1996 shootout against Germany. “A brilliant man, who made people feel special.”
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