Chris Evans and talkSPORT's Jim White pay tribute to Terry Venables and share stories

Virgin Radio

27 Nov 2023, 13:45

Presenters Chris Evans & talkSPORT's Jim White paid a touching tribute to late former England manager Terry Venables, a man that they both agree was 'too good for authority'.

Jim White visited the Virgin Radio studio to appear on The Chris Evans Breakfast show with cinch, to pay his respects to the late great former England manager Terry Venables, who unfortunately passed away yesterday (26th November) at the age of 80.

Chris Evans and White exchange stories that covered not only his career as a manager and but also characterful shadow the legendary footballing figure cast over the sport.

Venables had an incredibly illustrious tenure as a manager for both club and country with, as White reminded the listeners, most memorable moment was Euro '96 and the agonising semi-final defeat to Germany on that infamous Gareth Southgate missed penalty.

White also remembered that, Venables was known as much for his talent as a tactician as he was for his character, with White often been lost in fascination with Venables eloquence.

The memory arose for White whilst listening to an old interview he had done with another notable former England manager Brian Clough, he told Chris: "He [Clough] would always give you something in the interview didn't expect to get. Sir Alex [Ferguson] would do that as well. Venables would certainly do that, too."

"And I would find myself listening to Venables, more than interviewing him. I'm like 'really, really interesting.' Then you thought 'hang on, I'm interviewing you I'd better pipe down a bit. You know, he could take you in and he had you, he had your attention. Á la [Brian] Clough. He was an absolute superstar. He could sing too, couldn't he?"

Chris then added to this that Venables' character, although popular with as White mentioned 'the fans and players', would often cause issues with the powers that be, stating that they often don't like those that are unique and that Venables' himself was 'too good for authority'.

He went on to explain: "See authority doesn't like managers that have a bit of pizazz to them. They love managers. They love stars, but they can't deal with somebody who's both and he was both."

The pair both knew Venables well and both developed a friendly relationship with him over the years, and Chris would often end up seeing him in his favourite wine bar, saying: "One of the things I loved about him was this wine bar that he used to go to each and every day at half past four, Motcombs in Motcomb Street. And you know sometimes you hear about these places like Clint Eastwood got this favourite restaurant in Pebble Beach and he's never there you know. Believe me, I've checked many times.

"And people used to say, 'Is that where Terry Venables drinks? Yeah! When? 4:30 every day Monday through to Friday, and if you were there at 4:30 he'd be there. He wouldn't hold court, he would turn up on his own. He'd always be home for tea.

"Because he said 'I need to be home for half five.' He'd have one and a half glasses of white wine. The house white, maybe two, but no more than that, believe me, I tried to get him to stay for a third, he wasn't interested.

"And you know, he took few things seriously, apart from the things that needs to be taken seriously, but he never ever took himself seriously, ever."

Chris and White then rounded out their thoughts with calling him a 'hero' with Chris then ending the tribute with: "Well, one of his heroes was Frank Sinatra. And there's that great quote about Frank Sinatra. And Frank Sinatra said it himself, didn't he? He said, 'You only get one life but if you live it like I've lived mine, one is enough.' And I think the same could be said for Terry."

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.