Terry Venables was a football visionary who made England dream again

26 November 2023 , 12:56

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Terry Venables on his unveiling as England boss in January 1994 (Image: Getty Images)

Terry Venables was a football visionary.

A tactical genius of his time, a great man manager and one of English football’s most colourful characters.

I covered Terry Venables in a courtroom, doorstepped him over a crazy contract with Crystal Palace and shared a studio with him when he was talking about his love of food and wine.

And yet the biggest takeaway from every conversation was his charm, cheeky smile and ability to draw you in to his world.

His greatest ever achievement, in my view, was not to rebuild the England team for Euro 96, but his success at Barcelona.

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The best picture of Venables by a million miles was him in the Spanish sunshine, socks rolled down and directing the players out on the training pitch.

That was him to a tee. The king of all he purveyed. No wonder players loved him - and they really did.

Venables led Barcelona to the La Liga title in glorious fashion, reached the European Cup final when they were bored into submission by Steaua Bucharest. A rare heartbreaking defeat.

But Venables was one of the best coaches in the world at that point, the hottest property and a tactician who produced wonderful football with attacking flair and style.

His man management was also huge. Players loved him, responded to him and would do anything for him.

Venables had a huge impact at Barcelona (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

When he took over with England, the Three Lions were at their lowest point under Graham Taylor. They had failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and got stuck playing long ball nonsense at a time when English football was stuck in a rut playing four-four-f***ing-two.

Venables came in and I remember covering his first game in charge of England at Wembley when they beat Denmark 1-0 in March 1994. It was not a great game, but it was a lightbulb moment.

It was like flicking a switch. From basic, prehistoric tactics suddenly they were playing expansive, attractive football under Venables.

He allowed us all to dream and enjoy again. To beat the Dutch at Wembley, helping Paul Gascoigne shine at Wembley, it was one of the best summers of our lives.

Venables got the best out of Gazza at Euro 96 (PA)

It was beautiful.

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Venables of course enjoyed success with Tottenham as a manager. He had a brilliant career as a player. Always entertaining.

It often felt he was trying to recapture the heady days of Euro 96. That was an impossible task.

But he should not have worried. His brilliance, his character and wonderful smile will always live in our memories.

What a man and manager.

John Cross