Former Crystal Palace manager Terry Venables dies aged 80

Former Crystal Palace and England manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80.

A statement released from the Venables family confirmed he passed away on Saturday after a long illness.

In a statement to the League Managers’ Association, the Venables family said:” We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness. We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives.”

Richard Bevan, League Managers’ Association (LMA) chief executive, said: “The LMA is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of LMA member and former LMA President Terry Venables.

“Our thoughts are very much with Yvette and all of Terry’s family at this time.”

The former midfielder made over 500 appearances as a player at Chelsea, QPR, Crystal Palace and Spurs.

In his first senior job in management, Venables built a young team at Selhurst Park that consisted of mostly youth team players and free transfer signings, which the media dubbed the “Team of the Eighties”, winning promotion to the First Division.

He returned for a second stint as manager of the South Londoners in the 1998-99 season.

Venables was in charge of the England men’s national team between 1994 and 1996, reaching the semi-finals of the 1996 European championships as boss of the Three Lions.

He also had managerial stints at Barcelona, QPR and Tottenham Hotspur.