The former England, Barcelona and Tottenham manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80. Venables, who had a distinguished career as a player that brought two international caps, was in charge of England when they reached the semi-finals of Euro 96.
“We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” read a statement from Venables’ family. “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.”
Venables, known as El Tel after a spell at Barcelona during which he won La Liga and reached the European Cup final, had a successful, colourful and sometimes controversial career. Although he played more than 500 league games for Chelsea, Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace from 1960-1974, he is best known for his exploits as a manager.
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Having won promotion from the third tier to the top flight he achieved 13th place, which was then the club’s highest finish in 1979-80, before departing early the following season for second-tier QPR with Palace bottom.
A Spurs side including Lineker, whom he had first signed for Barcelona, and Paul Gascoigne won him the 1991 FA Cup, but weeks later he moved into a chief executive role under the new owner, Alan Sugar, after his own failed attempt to buy the club.
Venables’ time at Spurs ended in 1993 amid a court battle and soured relationship with Sugar and allegations of misdealings connected with his businesses, which he disputed, were raised that year.
He had announced months before Euro 96 that he would step down after the tournament because of upcoming court cases which he felt could interfere with England’s efforts to qualify for the 1998 World Cup – and he came agonisingly close to a perfect send-off.
England lost their semi-final to Germany on penalties at Wembley, but had produced one of the team’s most memorable performances of the modern era in beating the Netherlands 4-1 in the group stage.
Venables went on to become director of football then chairman at Portsmouth and had a period as Australia’s manager before he returned to the dugout in England with Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough (working alongside Bryan Robson) and Leeds, where he was sacked in 2003.
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