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Terry Venables turns 80: the Sportsmail image pays tribute to ‘El Tel’, who won the cup over Spurs and Chelsea, revived the luck of Barcelona and was so close to England in Euro ’96
- Legendary player and coach Venables celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday
- Played for England at school, youth, amateur, U23 and full international level
- He became known as ‘El Tel’ after leading Barcelona to the league title in 1985.
- He also managed England, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Leeds
Terry Venables turns 80 today, and to celebrate the legendary player and coach’s birthday sports mail remember some of his most memorable moments in pictures.
A skilled midfielder, Venables came through Chelsea’s academy and made his senior debut in 1960 after winning back-to-back FA Youth Cups. He regained promotion to the First Division after the Blues were relegated in 1962, and scored a penalty in the first leg of the 1965 League Cup final as Chelsea beat Leicester 3–2 to take the trophy .
Venables signed for Tottenham in 1966, where they won the FA Cup in 1967, beating former club Chelsea in the final, as well as the Charity Shield that year. In 1969 he moved to Second Division QPR and, after five years in west London, Venables moved to Crystal Palace in 1974 before hanging up his boots mid-season.
Legendary player and coach Terry Venables celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday
The skilled midfielder made his Chelsea debut in 1960 before joining Tottenham six years later.
The midfielder played twice for England, in draws with Belgium and the Netherlands, narrowly missing out on selection for Alf Ramsey’s victorious 1966 World Cup side. However, Venables holds the distinction of being the only footballer to have represented England at school, youth, amateur, under 23 and full international levels.
After training under Malcolm Allison at Crystal Palace for one season, Venables took over from ‘Big Mal’ in 1976 and guided the Eagles from the Third Division to the top flight in the space of three seasons. He left second-tier QPR in 1980, led them to the 1982 FA Cup final, where they lost to Spurs, and moved up to the First Division in 1983.
A fifth-place finish the following season, and a recommendation from Sir Bobby Robson, earned him a transfer to Barcelona, where he became known as ‘El Tel’. Venables led a star-studded team to the Spanish league title in 1985, their first since 1974, the 1986 Spanish league cup, and the Copa del Rey and European Cup finals that season.
Venables became known as ‘El Tel’ after leading Barcelona to the Spanish league title in 1985
Venables with his assistant Allan Harris and striker Steve Archibald at the Camp Nou in 1984
Venables took charge of a Rest of the World XI with Diego Maradona at Wembley in 1987
After returning to England with Tottenham in 1987, where we won the FA Cup and the Charity Shield in 1991 before he was appointed chief executive of the club, Venables was appointed England manager. He guided the home nation to the Euro 96 semi-finals, where they lost to Germany on penalties, but achieved his best result in the tournament since 1968.
Venables was replaced by Glenn Hoddle as England manager after the tournament, having lost just one of his 23 games in charge of the Three Lions, and went on to manage the Australian national team (1996-98), before a second spell. with Crystal Palace. (1998-99) and seasons in Middlesbrough (2000-01) and Leeds (2002-03), his last management position
Tottenham boss Venables shakes hands with Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough as they lead their teams in the 1991 FA Cup Final.
Venables lost just one of his 23 games in charge of the Three Lions between 1994 and 1996
Venables has two spells in charge at Crystal Palace and seasons at Middlesbrough and Leeds
Venables and his wife Yvette photographed in their 10-bedroom hotel in Alicante, Spain