Terry Venables, the charismatic and colorful manager who led England to the brink of European Championship success in 1996, has passed away at the age of 80. He is being remembered and honored for his contributions to the sport.
El Tel, who led the national team for two years, is one of the most beloved England managers. His time in charge came to an end with a heartbreaking loss to Germany on penalties in Euro 96.
Following the announcement from his family that Venables passed away peacefully in his sleep after a lengthy illness, many athletes came forward to commend his exceptional tactical abilities and leadership skills. Leading the way was ex-England footballer Gary Neville, who hailed Venables as “undoubtedly the most skilled British coach we have ever produced.”
Gareth Southgate, the current national manager and former player who missed a crucial penalty against Germany, shared a similar sentiment. He praised Venables as an exceptional coach and manager who had a strong tactical understanding and a great demeanor. Southgate also noted that Venables was open-minded and forward-thinking, and created a positive atmosphere for the England team, leading them to one of the most memorable tournaments in the country’s history.
Although there were debates surrounding Venables’ decision to use the Christmas tree formation before Euro 96, England’s impressive 4-1 victory over Holland in the group stages proved all critics wrong and instilled a sense of belief in the nation that football truly was coming home.
The following day, David Lacey wrote in the Guardian, praising it as one of the greatest performances ever by England. He likened it to Eliza Doolittle discovering her aspirates, stating that the Dutch had more shots on goal but the English’s precision ultimately secured the most well-known triumph at Wembley since the 1966 final.
Venables experienced significant accomplishments in the realm of club games. He led Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers to the top division, and then went on to Spain where he broke Barcelona’s 11-year streak without a title in 1986, earning himself a nickname. In 1991, he also won the FA Cup with Tottenham.
Gary Lineker, who was under Venables’ management at both Barcelona and Tottenham, spoke highly of him, stating: “He was the greatest and most forward-thinking coach that I had the honor and enjoyment of playing for. But he was more than just a fantastic manager. He was lively, charming, witty, and a friend. He will be greatly missed.”
Venables was frequently seen in public when not playing. During the 1970s, he worked with Gordon Williams to write the well-known detective series, Hazell. Additionally, he possessed a members-only club called Scribes West in Kensington where he conducted business and socialized with chosen journalists.
However, there was also a lot of controversy surrounding the situation. In June 1993, during a court case between Venables and Alan Sugar, the chairman of Tottenham at the time, the term “bung” was introduced into the vocabulary of football. This was in response to Sugar’s statement in court that Venables had suggested a transfer would happen faster if a large sum of money was given to Brian Clough, the manager of Nottingham Forest, at a motorway service station.
After the investigation, only one person, Arsenal manager George Graham, faced consequences. However, Venables returned to court in October 1996 and was instructed to destroy all unsold copies of his autobiography and pay £100,001 in damages to Sugar for a libel case. Despite this, Venables declared it as a win since the majority of the books had already been sold.
Soon after, Venables was prohibited from serving as a company executive for seven years due to a Department of Trade and Industry investigation. The inquiry involved Venables’ supposed mishandling of four businesses, including Scribes West and Tottenham. Despite this, he continued to be adored by soccer supporters for his innovative and incredibly entertaining style of play, which was well ahead of its era.
Venables was a skilled athlete who played in 526 games and achieved success in both the League Cup at Chelsea and the FA Cup at Tottenham. He also represented England twice. Following his retirement from the sport, he settled in Spain and, alongside his wife Yvette, operated a hotel and restaurant in Alicante.
Venables’s family released a statement expressing their deep sorrow over the passing of their beloved husband and father. He passed away after a lengthy illness in a peaceful manner. The family requests privacy during this difficult time as they grieve the loss of this kind man who meant so much to them.
Source: theguardian.com
