LAST UPDATE | 26 Nov 2023
FORMER ENGLAND, BARCELONA and Tottenham manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80.
As a player he made more than 500 appearances for Chelsea, Tottenham, QPR and Crystal Palace but made his real mark as a coach, also managing Palace and QPR.
“We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” read a family statement.
“We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives.”
In Spain Venables won the domestic title in 1984-85 and the FA Cup with Spurs in 1991 but it was his spell as England boss, guiding the team to the semi-final of Euro 96 on home soil after a brilliantly-memorable 4-1 win over the Netherlands only to lose on penalties to Germany.
League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan said: “The LMA is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of LMA member and former LMA president Terry Venables.
“Our thoughts are very much with Yvette and all of Terry’s family at this time.”
The English Football Association marked the passing of “a true football icon” while current England boss Gareth Southgate led the accolades to his former manager, who made famous the ‘Christmas Tree’ formation.
“Any player will have great affinity with the manager that gave them their opportunity, but it was quickly evident playing for Terry Venables that he was an outstanding coach and manager,” he said in a statement.
“Tactically excellent, he had a wonderful manner, 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.
“A brilliant man, who made people feel special.”
During his playing career, Venables co-wrote detective novels, which were later turned into the TV series Hazell about a wise-cracking cockney private eye. It ran for 22 episodes from 1978-79.
It proved a significantly bigger hit than one of his early business ideas – the ‘Thingummywig’, a hat with a built-in wig so women could go out without removing their curlers.
Everyone at St Patrick’s Athletic is saddened to learn of the passing of English football legend Terry Venables. Terry had a short spell with us in 1976. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam pic.twitter.com/0Ze8VenVr8
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) November 26, 2023
In Spain Venables – who became known as ‘El Tel’ – won La Liga in 1984-85 and the Spanish league cup and also led Barcelona to the 1986 European Cup final where they lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties after a goalless draw.
On his return to England he lifted the FA Cup with Spurs in 1991 but it was his spell as England boss at Euro 96 for which he is most fondly remembered.
Gary Lineker, whom Venables signed for Barcelona from Everton in 1986 and then brought to Tottenham in 1989 after he took the job at White Hart Lane, paid his own tribute.
“Devastated to hear that Terry Venables has died. The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend.”
Another former England striker Alan Shearer, who was the spearhead of Venables’ Euro 96 side, posted on X: “Extremely sad news the great Terry Venables has passed away. RIP Boss. I owe you so much. You were amazing.”
Venables followed through with his decision to quit after his Euro 96 disappointment to focus on a number of court cases related to his business dealings after the FA’s decision to refuse him a contract extension the previous winter.
“He was someone who the players trusted and had great faith in and he always spoke openly and he was a personality that was far too big for the then rigid and stiff FA and that’s why they got rid of him after Euro 96 and why the relationship ended,” Gary Neville, who was given his international debut by Venables, wrote on X.
Venables went on to coach Australia to within an away goals loss of World Cup qualification before moving on to Palace, Middlesbrough – where he was appointed to mentor a struggling Bryan Robson and successfully escaped relegation – and Leeds.
He was also in the frame to become Republic of Ireland manager before Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed in 2008.
Tottenham’s current Australian manager Ange Postecoglou and former Socceroos boss paid tribute, telling Sky Sports: “If you are asking about a person who embodies everything this football club has always wanted to be, it is Terry.
“He was the manager for the (Australia) national team and almost got us to the World Cup, but 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.”
