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
Terry Venables during his time as England manager
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.
Venables with Gary Lineker after the striker signed for Spurs in 1989
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.”
Venables consoles Gareth Southgate after his Euro 96 penalty miss. Pic: Action Images
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.”
Venables as QPR manager. Pic: Action Images
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 during his days as Barcelona boss
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.
The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.
Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.
The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.
He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.
“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.
“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
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The previous comments Coote made about Liverpool
An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.
Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.
That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.
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After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.
“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”
It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.
In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.
Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.
Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.
“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.
Pic: Instagram/Davina McCall
“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.
“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”
The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.
‘Out of the woods’
Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.
McCall with her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson. Pic: PA
“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.
He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.
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Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”
McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.
She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.
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