The passing of Terry Venables has been felt across Teesside after the former Barcelona, Spurs and England manager left an indelible mark on Middlesbrough football club during his brief 6-month spell in 2000/2001.
The infectious, larger than life character with a devilish grin was one of those figures that transcended football rivalries and allegiances, commanding respect from all quarters of the footballing world, largely because of the wonderful memories he created whilst guiding the England men’s team to a semi-final spot in Euro 96.
Tel ‘Ahead of his time’
It was not so much the fact of how far he took the national side in that tournament, but more so the tactical nuances that he orchestrated throughout it, and the way in which he managed that group. Some of England’s best ever football was played in that period and even though he did not fit the stereotypically corporate template desired from the English FA, he was a character that players could identify with and respond to.
As alluded to by Gary Neville in a sincere social media post, Venables was ahead of his time in terms of tactics and strategy. He was one of the biggest advocates of the ‘christmas tree’ and utilised it with England, but could also be fluid with his positional approach, often using players like Gary Neville himself in varying positions from game to game depending on the opposition set-up. One game he would be a right-sided centre-back in a back three, another time he would be employed as a right wing-back and so on. The same can be said about countless other players who played under him.
Venables’ tough task at Boro
In terms of his impact at Middlesbrough, he was drafted in by Steve Gibson at the request of then Manager Bryan Robson as Boro struggled during the 2000/2001 season. Robson had of course already endured the ups and downs of promotion and relegation with the Boro and was desperate to keep them in the Premier League, rather than become a perennial top-tier yo-yo club. When ‘El Tel’, a manager who Robbo knew only too well through his England coaching exploits, came in during early December, the club were rooted to the foot of the table.
The side that Venables was tasked with energising were a very different outfit from the kamikaze, attacking side that had been overseen by Robson through the late 90’s, instead, experienced players like Gary Pallister, Paul Ince and Robbie Mustoe were the core of what was more of a steady, defensive looking line-up.
More often that not, Boro set up with five at the back and three holding midfielders, hoping that the magic of Alen Boksic would muster something up front. Venables knew that he had to get Boksic onside if he was to get Boro out of trouble, and he managed to get the Croatian hitman firing. The former Lazio forward struck 7 goals in the second half of the season to add to the 5 he had already scored.
It was an impressive haul in a side that wasn’t renowned for it’s creativity, and along with some grit and determination from the rest of the squad, it was enough to keep them up, finishing in 14th place at the end of the campaign. He even managed to make the unlikeliest strike partnership I’ve ever seen look plausible with the addition of Dean Windass-Venables’ only Boro signing-to support Boksic.
Former players lead tributes
Some of the players in that Boro squad were keen to pay their respects for their former ‘gaffer’, with Robbie Mustoe, a central midfielder and integral part of Boro’s squad for a number of years, tweeting, “Quite simply the best coach I worked under (6 months at Boro)…and by some distance. So far ahead tactically than all my others. A sad day. RIP Terry.”
Another player that remembered Terry Venables with fondness was ‘The Guv’nor’ Paul Ince. Ince’s leadership and resilience was one of the reasons’ for the club staying up that season. In an interview with Sky Sports, he said, “The best managers are the ones who are great coaches and great man-managers and Terry Venables was that. You thought he was one of your mates, but you knew how far you can go, there was a fine line.”
‘Missed by the football world’
Mark Crossley was at Middlesbrough when Venables performed his mini-miracle on Teesside. He also played against Venables’ Spurs side in the FA Cup final whilst at Forest. Accompanying a picture of Brian Clough and Venables walking out at Wembley holding hands, he tweeted, “Walked out behind him in the FA Cup Final, also worked under him at Middlesbrough FC, Terry there is a great man in heaven waiting to hold your hand again in Brian Clough , a great football man and you will be missed by the football world but never forgotten RIP Terry Venables.”
Former Middlesbrough striker, Andy Campbell paid his respects with a Facebook post that read, “So sad, such a good guy and someone i enjoyed working under. Thoughts and prayers with Terry’s family at this sad time. #UTB”
Another former Boro player and local lad Phil Stamp also added, “RIP El TELL unreal manager better person.”
Six months does not sound long, but saving Middlesbrough from the impending doom of another drop to the second tier may have proved disastrous at the time, and remember, the subsequent years provided our League Cup success and those unbelievable European adventures. Would that have happened if Boro had been once again cast into the division below with the rest of football’s sleeping giants? Probably not.
So, we should thank Terry Venables for that brief but ineradicable period. Thanks for the memories Tel, RIP Terry.