Terry Venables, a charismatic and tactically innovative English soccer coach who led his national team to the European Championship semifinals in 1996 after winning trophies at club level with Barcelona and Tottenham, has died. He was 80.

The death of Venables was announced on Sunday in a statement by his family to British media, saying he died on Saturday after a long illness.

The English Football Association said Venables left behind a legacy that B次元官网网址渃aptured the imagination of many and enhanced the global reputation of the English game.B次元官网网址�

Former England captain Gary Lineker, who played as a striker under Venables at Barcelona and Tottenham, described him as B次元官网网址渢he best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for.B次元官网网址�

Charming, witty and popular, Venables, who was born just outside London, played for Chelsea, Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace B次元官网网址� all clubs in the capital B次元官网网址� in a 16-year senior career that included two appearances for England in the mid-1960s.

Palace and QPR were the first teams B次元官网网址淓l Tel,B次元官网网址� as he was nicknamed, managed before he moved to Barcelona for a spell from 1984-87 where he led the team to the Spanish league title in 1985 B次元官网网址� its first since 1974. He also led Barca to the European Cup final in 1986, where it lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.

During his time at the Camp Nou, Venables oversaw the sale of Argentina great Diego Maradona to Napoli.

As Tottenham manager from 1987-91, he won the FA Cup in what proved to be his final season and then became chief executive before his relationship with then-chairman Alan Sugar gradually broke down and he was fired. Later in 1993, the BBCB次元官网网址檚 Panorama program alleged improper conduct connected with VenablesB次元官网网址� businesses, to which he responded by threatening legal action.

Venables turned to international management and his proudest moment was coaching England from 1994-96, including at Euro 96 on home soil where a talented team B次元官网网址� containing the mercurial Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer and playing in a B次元官网网址淐hristmas treeB次元官网网址� formation B次元官网网址� lost to Germany in a penalty shootout in the semifinals. EnglandB次元官网网址檚 4-1 win over the Netherlands in the group stage has gone down as one of the national teamB次元官网网址檚 great performances.

B次元官网网址淗e was an unbelievable personality and character, larger than life,B次元官网网址� former England right back Gary Neville wrote on X, formerly Twitter. B次元官网网址淗e was someone who was a playersB次元官网网址� man, looked after his players, stood up for his players in big situations.B次元官网网址�

Venables was hired by Australia in 1997 but failed to qualify the team for the 1998 World Cup after losing in a playoff to Iran. He still left a legacy on Australian soccer despite his short time in charge, TottenhamB次元官网网址檚 Australian coach Ange Postecoglou said.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest testament,B次元官网网址� Postecoglou said, B次元官网网址渋s that anyone who I have ever come across that has worked with him will say he is by far the best coach, manager and tactician they have come across.B次元官网网址�

VenablesB次元官网网址� final coaching spells were back in club soccer with Palace, Middlesbrough and Leeds, though he had a brief stint as assistant to England coach Steve McClaren in 2006 only to leave after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship.

Gareth Southgate, the current coach of EnglandB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 team, described Venables as B次元官网网址渢actically excellentB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渃apable of handling everyone from the youngest player to the biggest star.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗e was open minded, forward thinking , enjoyed life to the full and created a brilliant environment with England that allowed his players to flourish and have one of the most memorable tournaments in England history,B次元官网网址� said Southgate, who missed a penalty for England in the 1996 shootout against Germany. B次元官网网址淎 brilliant man, who made people feel special, IB次元官网网址檓 very sad to hear of his passing.B次元官网网址�

Tottenham held a minuteB次元官网网址檚 applause ahead of its game against Aston Villa on Sunday, with both sets of players wearing black armbands.