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Terry Venables, a charismatic and tactically innovative English football coach who led his national team to the European Championship semi-finals in 1996 after winning trophies at club level with Barcelona and Tottenham, has died. He was 80.
Venables was Socceroos coach during a World Cup qualifying campaign in 1997, but failed to make the tournament after a second-leg 2-2 draw with Iran in Melbourne.
The death of Venables was announced in a statement by his family to British media, saying he died on Saturday after a long illness.
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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 was hired by Australia in 1997 but failed to qualify the team for the 1998 World Cup after losing in a playoff to Iran. He still left a legacy on Australian football despite his short time in charge, Tottenham’s Australian coach Ange Postecoglou said.
“The biggest testament,” Postecoglou said, “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.
“If you are asking about a person who embodies everything this football club has always wanted to be, it is Terry.
“It wasn’t just about the way he managed or coached, it was the person he was.
“He influenced Australia as well. He 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.”
Venables’ final coaching spells were back in club football with Palace, Middlesbrough and Leeds, though he had a brief stint as assistant to England coach Steve McClaren in 2006 only to leave after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship.
Gareth Southgate, the current coach of England’s men’s team, described Venables as “tactically excellent” and “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, I’m very sad to hear of his passing.”
Tottenham held a minute’s applause ahead of its game against Aston Villa, with both sets of players wearing black armbands.
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