'A charismatic figure in football' - Terry Venables' obituary
Posted on November 26th, 2023, in a 5-minute read format.
Remembering Terry Venables: A Legendary Career
It is with great sorrow that we receive the news of the demise of Terry Venables, a former England player and coach, who passed away at the age of 80.
Terry had a captivating presence in the English football scene while he pursued his career. He left an indelible impression on the sport as both a player and manager. His coaching has had a significant impact on several players, who have gone on to establish their own successful coaching careers.
Specifically, his time as the manager of England from 1994 to 1996 firmly established his place in the records of English football history.
Whilst coaching England, he managed to guide the national team to the semi-finals in the UEFA EURO 1996 competition held in their home turf. This particular journey had a significant impact on the country and holds a special place in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to witness the events unfold.
Venables brought about a feeling of honor and hopefulness across English football in that summer, thus making the tournament synonymous with the legendary tune "Football's Coming Home." This reflects the universal yearning and enthusiasm that he fueled.
Venables was born in Dagenham, which is situated in the east part of London, on January 6, 1943. He played for some of the well-known clubs in England as a player, which include Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace. His tenure as a player spanned from the 1960s to the early 1970s.
Venables was an impressive midfielder who had a great combination of skills on the field including his strategic vision, passing proficiency, and leadership qualities. He was widely acknowledged for his performance both at the national and international levels. Venables achieved four caps for the U23s and two caps for the senior team for England.
However, it was on the sidelines and practice field where he found his true voice, effortlessly shifting from being a player to assuming the role of coach and manager.
He started his career as a manager in 1976 with Crystal Palace. He worked there for four years and led the team to two promotions from the Third Division in 1977. Later, he guided the club to the Second Division title in 1979.
In 1980, he departed and went to join the Queens Park Rangers. This move proved to be a prosperous one as he enjoyed another fruitful period at the new club. He achieved a remarkable feat in 1983 by leading his former team to reach the top level of English football after they were promoted. This came only a year after taking the second-tier club to the 1982 FA Cup Final.
The end of his time at Loftus Road was marked by the club's triumph in finishing fifth in the First Division, which secured their place in the UEFA Cup. After this success, he seized the chance to manage Barcelona in 1984 and embark on a career abroad.
While playing in Spain, he was given the nickname 'El Tel' for his success in leading the Catalonian team to a victory in the Spanish league championship in 1985, which was their first win in eleven years, as well as the Copa del Rey in 1986.
In 1987, he went back to England and became the coach of Tottenham Hotspur, which was one of his previous teams. He was able to guide them to winning the FA Cup in 1991.
Southgate honours Terry Venables
During the next couple of years, he assumed a high-ranking position at White Hart Lane. Later, he departed from the club in the year 1993, which eventually led to him becoming the manager of England, succeeding Graham Taylor.
While serving as the manager of the England national football team, Venables successfully guided his group to the EURO 96 tournament. This was achieved through rigorous preparation and strategic planning, which included a string of international matches that helped his team gain momentum leading up to the competition. As a result, the team generated widespread excitement and captured the hearts of the nation during their impressive run in the tournament.
Wins against Scotland and the Netherlands during the initial phase led to a quarter-final matchup against Spain at Wembley. After a penalty shootout success, they advanced to the semifinals.
The English team was in the lead with a goal from Alan Shearer, but later Andreas Moller of the German team equalised the score. The Three Lions tried their best to get a goal in extra time and were almost successful when Paul Gascoigne came close to scoring the winning goal. Unfortunately, the game ended in a penalty shoot-out.
Regrettably, England did not come out successful this time around as Germany emerged victorious and clinched the championship by defeating Czechia in the Final held at Wembley.
Venables ended his service as the coach of England following the tournament. During his tenure, he supervised a total of 23 matches, securing victories in eleven games, drawing in eleven, and losing in one.
Afterward, he took on roles as a director with an Australian team – before coming back to England for a second job as a coach for Crystal Palace. Then, he went on to manage Leeds United and Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
In addition to his success in the fields of playing and coaching, Venables was also a well-liked expert on television and spent some time residing in Spain as a hotel owner prior to retiring in 2019.
We offer our sympathies and heartfelt thoughts to Terry's loved ones during this difficult time.
