Aussie football greats pay tribute to legendary former Socceroos boss Terry Venables: 'What a wonderful man he was'
- Former Spurs, Barcelona, England and Australia manager sorely missed
- Guided Socceroos to the brink of the World Cup in 1997
- READ MORE: Inside Venables' stint as Socceroos manager
- READ MORE: Football legend Terry Venables dies at the age of 80
Some of the biggest names in Australian football have paid gushing tributes to former Socceroos boss Terry Venables after the legendary manager lost his battle with a long illness.
The English great was a gifted, charismatic, influential coach who achieved much success, notably with Barcelona, and was popular with players and fans alike.
After taking England to the semifinals of the 1994 European Championships, he was persuaded to coach Australia, where he played briefly towards the end of his career for Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic, now known as Canterbury Bankstown.
It was hoped he could end a 24-year wait to appear in the World Cup finals, and he came to the brink of doing so.
![Venables (pictured soon after his appointment as Socceroos manager) has been the subject of gushing tributes from some of Australia's best footballers after his death aged 80](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78260077-12793607-image-a-40_1701044562540.jpg)
Venables (pictured soon after his appointment as Socceroos manager) has been the subject of gushing tributes from some of Australia's best footballers after his death aged 80
![The English legend steered Australia to the brink of the World Cup in 1997 and left an indelible mark on the stars he coached](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78258829-12793607-image-a-41_1701044891539.jpg)
The English legend steered Australia to the brink of the World Cup in 1997 and left an indelible mark on the stars he coached
![Harry Kewell's tribute featured a photo of him with Venables during their time together at Leeds United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78260111-12793607-image-m-43_1701044945599.jpg)
Harry Kewell's tribute featured a photo of him with Venables during their time together at Leeds United
With Venables coaxing the best of an exciting young squad including Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Mark Bosnich, Robbie Slater, John Aloisi and Aurelio Vidmar, the Socceroos impressed in high-profile friendlies and swept Oceania qualifying to earn a play-off with Iran.
After a 1-1 first-leg draw in front of 129,000 in Tehran, Kewell scoring, Australia drew 85,000 to the MCG, double the then-record for a soccer match in Australia.
Kewell and Vidmar put them 2-0 up but, after an interruption by a pitch invader broke the momentum Iran struck twice in the last 15 minutes to take the place in France with a three-all draw.
The bulk of the stars from that side were left heartbroken at the news of Venables' passing and took to social media to share their admiration for their old boss.
Slater branded the football legend 'a mentor of mine' as he wrote, 'A great player and manager! RIP! Such a great man! Memories!'
Kewell posted a photo of himself and Venables when they were both at Leeds with the caption: 'Absolutely gutted. Thank you for everything. RIP Boss'.
![Venables (pictured after the three-all draw with Iran in 1997) also took Australia to the final of the Confederations Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78260085-12793607-image-m-45_1701045002232.jpg)
Venables (pictured after the three-all draw with Iran in 1997) also took Australia to the final of the Confederations Cup
![Socceroos great Robbie Slater spoke for many of his teammates when he called Venables 'a great man' after learning of his passing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78260097-12793607-image-a-46_1701045133667.jpg)
Socceroos great Robbie Slater spoke for many of his teammates when he called Venables 'a great man' after learning of his passing
Goalie Bosnich called him 'a wonderful manager and an even better man', while Craig Moore - who started in the loss to Iran - wrote: 'Such sad news. What a wonderful man he was. An incredible manager that was miles ahead in his time. Was very lucky to work with him for club and country.'
John Aloisi - who was in his first year with the national side when he played against Iran - said: 'I'm so grateful that I was coached by one of the best so early in my career.'
The Socceroos went on to reach the final of the Confederations Cup, losing to Brazil, a month after the shattering Iran defeat, but that only served to make the pain of missing out more raw and Venables went back to England.
Australian Ange Postecoglou, another of Venables' successors as Socceroos coach, paid tribute to his impact ahead of Spurs' match with Aston Villa on Sunday.
'If you are asking about a person who embodies everything this football club has always wanted to be, it is Terry,' Postecoglou told Sky Sports.
![Mark Bosnich said Venables' stint with the national side 'opened all our minds to football played in another way'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/27/00/78260093-12793607-image-a-47_1701045184078.jpg)
Mark Bosnich said Venables' stint with the national side 'opened all our minds to football played in another way'
'It wasn't just about the way he managed or coached, it was the person he was.
'He influenced Australia as well. He almost got us to the World Cup, but the biggest testament is 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.'
After the Socceroos Venables coached Crystal Palace for a second time, Middlesbrough and Leeds, without recapturing his early success.
A man of wide-ranging interests he was also chairman of Portsmouth, co-wrote a book and a TV series, and ran a London west end club.
Gary Lineker, who he signed for Barcelona and Tottenham, Alan Shearer, his centre-forward at Euro'96, and Gareth Southgate, the current coach of England's men's team who missed the fateful penalty in the semi-final shoot-out, were among others to pay tribute to Venables.
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