Terry Venables

Terence Frederick Venables, more commonly known as Terry Venables (born January 6, 1943) is an English football manager, who managed the England national football team.

Managerial career

On his retirement from playing, he took over the manager's role at Palace whom he coached to two promotions in three seasons, to get them to the Football League First Division in 1979. Returning to Queens Park Rangers, he performed the same promotion miracle for them in 1983. His growing reputation bought him offers from some of Europe's most prestigious clubs and in 1984 he took the role of manager at Barcelona, earning the sobriquet El Tel. During his three seasons in Catalonia, Venables led the club to the Spanish title and league cup, only losing in the final of the European Cup on penalties.

Related Topics:
Football League First Division - 1979 - 1983 - 1984 - Barcelona - Catalonia - Spanish title - European Cup - Penalties

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In 1987, he returned to the UK to manage Tottenham Hotspur. Though he led them to FA Cup victory in 1991, a clash of personalities developed with club owner Alan Sugar who insisted on authority over footballing matters. Sugar dismissed Venables on the eve of their 1993 FA Cup semi-final against local rivals Arsenal and Venables spent the next few years pursuing his broad and rapidly developing business interests.

Related Topics:
1987 - FA Cup - 1991 - Alan Sugar - 1993 - Arsenal

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By 1993, the England national football team had reached a nadir under Graham Taylor and Venables, though not active in the game, seemed to have the presence and charisma that could re-ignite some patriotic pride and achievement. However, the speculation coincided with Venables' business dealings falling under some scrutiny and censure. The Football Association struggled to identify an alternative candidate but their discomfort with his soiled reputation for probity was articulated in their appointment of him as England coach rather than under the traditional title of manager. His highest achievement came through his masterful tactical insights during the 1996 European Football Championship. His skill in analysis, coaching and motivation resulted in some of England's best ever footballing performances, only ending in the bitter disappointment of losing to Germany on penalties in the semi-final. However, Venables' business dealings offered a constant distraction and he left the England job shortly afterwards, going on to become a consultant and then chairman at Portsmouth, to a second period at Palace and to a short spell coaching the Australian national team. In 1998, he was disqualified from acting as a company director for seven years under section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

Related Topics:
1993 - Graham Taylor - The Football Association - 1996 European Football Championship - Germany - Portsmouth - Australian national team - 1998 - Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986

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His first experience of the FA Premier League came in 2000 when Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson appointed him as his assistant. However, Venables felt Teeside too remote a base for his media and business interests and he left the club in 2001. In July 2002 Venables joined Leeds United as manager. Leeds were already caught in a downward spiral of footballing failure, disappointing revenues and escalating wage costs. Against his public guarantees to the supporters, he could not prevent the sale of the club's most effective and most valuable players to meet mounting debts. Under such circumstances, he was unable to stem the club's decline and he left in March 2003.

Related Topics:
FA Premier League - 2000 - Middlesbrough - Bryan Robson - Teeside - 2001 - 2002 - Leeds United - 2003

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He was to become the technical director of the Newcastle United Jets, who will participate in the replacement for the Australian National Soccer League, the A-League, beginning 2005. However, his many commitments in the UK will prevent him from taking up any job with the club, and his agent announced that he did not sign any deal with the club.

Related Topics:
Newcastle United Jets - National Soccer League - A-League - 2005

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