VERY SAD Chelsea News has been announced this morning as former Chelsea Player And Manager lost his life this morning after a brief Illness
Terry Venables, the former England manager, died at the age of 80 following a protracted illness, according to his family.
Venables was England’s manager from 1994 to 1996, taking the Three Lions to the Euro 1996 semi-finals before being eliminated on penalties by Germany.
He also had successful stints as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.
‘We are completely crushed by the loss of a loving husband and father who went away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,’ his family said in a statement.
We would appreciate privacy during this extremely difficult time so that we can mourn the loss of this wonderful man who we were so fortunate to have in our lives.’
‘The LMA is profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of LMA member and former LMA President Terry Venables,’ said a statement from the League Manager’s Association.
‘At this time, our hearts go out to Yvette and the rest of Terry’s family.’
Venables, who was born in Dagenham in 1943, made over 200 games for Chelsea as well as over 100 for Tottenham and QPR throughout his 16-year playing career.
He began his managerial career in 1976, with success at Crystal Palace and QPR before taking over at Barcelona in 1984.
He won La Liga in his first season in command, managing Gary Lineker at the Camp Nou, who praised him as ‘the most imaginative coach I have ever played under.’
Venables returned to England in 1987 to take over at Tottenham Hotspur, where he led the club to the FA Cup in 1991.
Following England’s failure to qualify for the USA in 1994, the national team post became available. At Euro 96, his team dominated group stage matches against Scotland and the Netherlands before defeating Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals. England was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champion Germany after a bitter penalty shoot-out defeat.
Venables spent a year in command of Australia after leaving England, before returning to the UK for another time at Palace, followed by spells at Middlesbrough and Leeds United.