Terry Venables passes away

The FC Barcelona coach from 1984 to 1987, Terry Venables, has passed away at the age of 80 years. The Englishman took Barça to the Liga title in the 1984/85 season, the Club's first in 11 seasons, before winning the Copa de la Liga in the 1985/86 season. That 85/86 season included the fateful penalty shootout in Seville against Steaua București in the 1986 European Cup final that meant he fell just short of becoming Barça's first winning coach in the competition.

Venables (Dagenham, 6 January 1943) arrived at FC Barcelona tasked with replacing Menotti, a coach who had instilled an attractive playing style despite not winning major titles. The post-Maradona era was just about to begin. Terry went for a classic English 4-4-2 style with robust defenders such as Gerardo, Migueli and Julio Alberto, and a very hardworking midfield, with German Bernd Schuster the standout figure. Scotsman Steve Archibald was the opportunistic forward to provide the icing on the cake.

Having won two trophies and after a tough start to the 87/88 season, Terry Venables left Barça in September 1987, with Luis Aragonés his replacement.

In addition to Barça, Venables coached the English and Australian national teams, as well as club sides Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Leeds United. His playing career began at Chelsea in 1960, before spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace. He holds the record for being the only player to represent England at all levels, from the youth sides up to the full side, for whom he won two caps.