Terry Venables: Former England manager dies aged 80

Former England football manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80. 

His family said he “passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness”.

Venables guided the men’s national team to the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships, where they were knocked out by Germany 6-5 on penalties at Wembley.

During his managerial career, he also was in charge of clubs including Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Barcelona.

In Spain, Venables, often referred to as El Tel, won the domestic title with the Catalan side in the 1984/85 season and then claimed the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1991.

Live updates: ‘RIP boss’ – England footballers lead tributes

In tribute, Spurs held a minute’s applause before Sunday’s fixture at home to Aston Villa and players wore black armbands.

As a player, Venables represented sides including Chelsea, Spurs and QPR and made more than 500 appearances. He also had two England caps.

But he made his real mark as a coach, including for England which he managed between 1994 and 1996.

Former England captain Gary Lineker, who Venables signed for Barcelona from Everton in 1986 and then brought to Tottenham in 1989 after he took the job at White Hart Lane, was among those paying 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 known as Twitter.

“He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend.”

Former England striker Alan Shearer, who spearheaded 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.”

Gareth Southgate, who missed a penalty for England in the 1996 shootout against Germany and is now the 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.

“A brilliant man, who made people feel special, I’m very sad to hear of his passing.”

An England statement on X said: “Having won two senior caps as a player, Terry went onto manage the #ThreeLions between 1994 and 1996 – proudly leading us to the semi-finals of Euro 96.”

A statement issued on behalf of Venables’ family said: “We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness.

“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.”

Sky’s sports correspondent Rob Harris said: “So many, of course, will remember his reign as England manager.

“One of the high points really of English football for the men’s game – Euro 96 and taking England through to the semi-finals and of course just missing out to Germany as so often.

“It was really part of the rebirth of English football after some of the challenges throughout the 70s and 80s in particular, and the whole Football’s Coming Home was really so heavily associated with Terry Venables.”

Venables, who was born in Dagenham in 1943, won La Liga with Barcelona.

Harris said: “An Englishman winning the top trophy in Spanish football was really a notable achievement, as well as reaching the European Cup final with the Catalan club [in 1986].

“So really someone who saw so much across the game, someone with such a distinguished reputation throughout football, not only as a player but also as a manager as well.”

Venables also coached Australia but the team failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1998 after losing in a playoff to Iran.

His final coaching spells were back in England with Palace, Middlesbrough and Leeds. He later was assistant to the then manager of the men’s national side, Steve McClaren, between 2006 and 2007.