Football Australia is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Socceroos’ Head Coach and football icon, Terry Venables. Venables, who passed away at the age of 80, was a highly respected and influential figure in Australian football, both as a player and a coach.
Venables coached the Socceroos from 1996 to 1998, leading the team to the 1997 Confederations Cup final and the 1998 World Cup qualifying playoffs. He was also a successful manager at club level, winning the First Division with Crystal Palace in 1979, the FA Cup with Tottenham Hotspur in 1991, and reaching the European Cup final with Barcelona in 1986.
“Terry Venables was a giant of Australian football,” said Football Australia Chairman James Johnson. “He was a great coach, a great motivator, and a true gentleman. He will be sorely missed by the Australian football community.”
Venables’ impact on Australian football was significant. He introduced a new style of play to the Socceroos and helped to raise the profile of the sport in Australia. He was also a strong advocate for Australian football, both domestically and internationally.
“Terry Venables was a pioneer for Australian football,” said Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. “He was one of the first to believe that Australia could compete on the world stage. He was a great mentor to me and many other Australian coaches. He will be a huge loss to Australian football.”
Venables will be remembered as a legend of Australian football. He was a charismatic and inspirational leader who made a lasting impact on the sport.
