Terry Venables: Born to Manage: The Autobiography

by Terry Venables

After a playing career that spanned more than 15 years, and took in golden spells in the sixties with Chelsea and Spurs, it was almost inevitable that Terry Venables would move into management. Following early success with Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, he was appointed to the plum job of managing Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Spanish giants had been struggling, but he soon turned them around and brought them trophy success, which inevitably earned him the nickname 'El Tel'. He returned to England to take charge of Spurs, where he helped save the club from financial troubles, and formed an ill-fated partnership with Alan Sugar. Again there was trophy success, as Venables worked with top England stars such as Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker and Chris Waddle, and when the England job fell vacant, he was the obvious choice for the role, leading the nation to the semi-finals of Euro 96 where they lost out on a place in the final after a penalty shoot-out. After leaving the England job, he has subsequently worked in numerous different roles. A charismatic and gregarious personality, Venables is widely viewed as one of football's great tacticians and is the most successful English manager of recent years. His story is sure to fascinate and entertain all followers of the game, providing a unique insight based on more than 50 years at the top.

Genres: Football, Biography, Autobiography

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2013

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Terence Frederick Venables, often referred to as El Tel, was an English football player and manager who played for clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers and won two caps for England.

As a manager, Venables won the Second Division championship with Crystal Palace in 1979.
- Wikipedia

Reviews

[Andrew Alvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong Spurs fan it was a no-brainer to give this a bash.
Terry opening up the book with England's Euro 1996 Campaign brought back some sad memories but I'd forgotten all about how England's fans collectively got behind ths team.

After this opening, Terry then backtracks over his youth and career from the grounds to the boardrooms of footballdom. He goes over in great detail the stresses of management, much like how Harry Redknapp did in Always Managing.

I have a great respect for the man, his talent and achievements. He will be a much missed figure in English Football.

RIP Terry Venables
1943-2023

[Tom Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Managers careers much like politicians usually start with success and then end in ever diminishing defeats. Venables although one of the greats in my opinion fails to break this template. And so this book contains a fair helping of acrimony fall outs and grudges. These are mostly tiresome rather than illuminating. However the highs are very high and reliving Euro 96 through the eyes of one of the main protagonists is a fascinating nostalgia ride.

[Shahiron Sahari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting insights into coaching and the sport and certain events, but the sense prevails that he has truly held back on the whole truth.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent insight to the ups and downs in the life of football from both a player and manager's perspective. Venables tells it like it is in an easy going style with some eye opening stories about the business side of the game and some really interesting musing on the tactical side of the football. An excellent read from the man who should still be the England manager.

[Chris Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always found Venables a likeable guy and his book is an intersting read. I found the Euro 96 chapter the most interesting, with his playing carear being before my time this was the era when I first heard of Venables. Didn't agree with some of his plans, especially his idea of changing the name of QPR to London.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters where interesting some where too in depth and hard to get to grips with . Wouldnt recommend it ...