Terry Venables tributes from Gary Lineker, Gareth Southgate, Ange Postecoglou and Gary Neville

November 26, 2023

Updated 34 minutes ago

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“The best English coach we have ever had”

Terry Venables was “the best England manager we ever had,” Gary Lineker said as he paid tribute to the former England manager following his death aged 80.

Venables signed English striker Lineker for both Barcelona and Tottenham.

Lineker said Venables’ death – which came after a long illness – had “hit me hard” because “he was not a coach or just a manager, but a friend”.

“He was charming, charismatic, funny, but also tough – and you had to be that,” said Lineker.

“He understood football – he had an incredible football brain.”

“He was a leader in terms of coaching – a bit like Pep,” Lineker told the `. “The type of football he played – high pressing, possession – was more difficult because of the playing surfaces.”

“I would rank him at the top in terms of the way he thinks tactically about the game. I had so many lunches with him where we just talked about tactics. He had a huge brain for that.”

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“A colorful and charismatic leader” – Terry Venables obituary

Venables was England coach for two years and led the country to the semi-finals of Euro 96.

“Terry came at a time when we had good players but he used them perfectly,” said Lineker, who had already retired by then.

“The tactics in some games during the European Championship were well thought out and imaginative. They were incredibly unlucky not to win the semi-final.” [against Germany] and I’m sure they would have won the final.

Current England manager Gareth Southgate was part of this squad, having made his international debut with Venables the previous year.

“He had a wonderful manner and was able to deal with everyone, from the youngest player to the biggest star,” Southgate said.

“Any player will have a great affinity for the manager who gave them their chance, but when he played for Terry Venables it quickly became clear that he was an excellent coach and manager.”

“He was open-minded, forward-thinking, lived life to the fullest and created a brilliant environment with England that allowed his players to thrive and produce one of the most memorable tournaments in England’s history.”

“He was a brilliant man who made people feel special.”

image source, Getty Images

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Terry Venables gave Gareth Southgate his England debut in 1995. Both played for Crystal Palace and coached Middlesbrough

Venables played for Chelsea, Tottenham, QPR and Crystal Palace and won two caps for England.

He managed Palace, QPR, Barcelona, ​​Tottenham, England, Australia, Middlesbrough and Leeds United.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who has also managed Australia, told Sky Sports: “If you ask for one person who embodies everything this football club has always wanted to be, it is Terry. It wasn’t just about the way he trained; it was the person he was.

“He also influenced Australia. He was the manager of the national team and almost took us to the World Cup, but the biggest proof is that everyone I have ever met who has worked with him will say that he is by far the best. Coach, manager and tactician they met.

Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of “a true icon of the game”.

Isaac added: “His remarkable contributions to the game, particularly during his tenure as Socceroos head coach, have left an indelible mark on Australian football.”

Spanish midfielder Nayim played for Venables at FC Barcelona and followed the coach to Tottenham.

The 57-year-old told ` Radio 5 Live: “The best call of my life was from Terry Venables when he was Tottenham manager and he called me to join. I trained alone because Johan Cruyff wouldn’t let me.” I train with the team; I trained alone for about three months.

“Terry Venables knew about it and he knew how I played. He said: ‘I’d love for you to come to Tottenham.’ I told him about my situation, I think he knew anyway, and it was the best decision of my life.”

“It changed everything in my life, not just my professional career but also personally.”

Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks told ` Sport he was “devastated by the news that Terry Venables has left the football world”.

“The sport has lost another ambassador. “He was a great communicator, tactician and football manager with a wonderful sense of humor,” said Crooks.

Former Tottenham defender Neil Ruddock, who managed the club under Venables, told ` Breakfast: “Every player who played for him loved him.”

“He was like your favorite uncle. He taught me how to behave off the field. He made me a better person.”

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EM 96: England – Netherlands 4-1 – Venables’ England in top form

“Not only did he create teams, he could also handle the big names. The bigger the names, the better he handled them. He will be remembered for bringing England so close to winning the European Championship in 1996, but I will remember him for launching the extraordinary dynasty in Barcelona.

“He won the Spanish title and led them to the European Cup final against Steaua Bucharest. He is one of the few managers to have won the FA Cup as a player for Tottenham and as a manager. He made a tremendous contribution to the beautiful game and he will be sorely missed.

Former England defender Gary Neville wrote on social media: “We hear people who play for Pep Guardiola now saying that he can call the result of a game in training a few days before the game. Terry Venables had exactly the same ability.”

“The possibility that we had to change the system during games and from game to game was incredible, it blew me away. England definitely needed more like him and it was really sad when he left at the end of Euro 96. I never felt it.” became as good again for England as it was under him.

Bryan Robson, who coached England and Middlesbrough alongside Venables, said: “Terry was a brilliant coach to work with and I learned so much from him. He was very good tactically, but also a great motivator and communicator.”

“Everyone who worked with Terry will always remember him as someone who lived life with a smile on his face.”

Steve McClaren brought Venables back into the England team as his assistant in 2006.

“Terry was a true gentleman and a coach who was always ahead of his time. Working with him for England was a joy and an education and he helped me enormously to deal with the pressure that comes with the job,” McClaren said.