The Cockney Hero with a Difference

Given that professional football has become a branch of show business, an unscripted soap, the appointment of Terry Venables as manager of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club could be compared to an incident in Dallas or Dynasty. When he took over officially, he entered the most critical phase of an already remarkable career.

«Cockney hero came home to the club he supported as a boy and whose colours he wore in an FA Cup final» is a neat enough summary but on its own, not sufficiently appearing to justify the attention Mr Venables commanded in the popular Press. To understand this it is necessary to understand the man rather than his role, not his achievements but his personality: quick-witted, articulate, flam­boyant, independent, generous, cunning, shrewd and ambitious, Mr Venables was, above all else, different. As a teenager, he dared to sing with the Joe Loss Band. Later he co-scripted a television series and helped write a novel. He did not conform.

The circumstances which prevailed when he was first ap­proached by Irvin Scholar, the Tottenham chairman, were those of the boardroom rather than the barrow. Mr Scholar acquired a control­ling interest at White Hart Lane and was seeking a replacement for David Pleat who had resigned. Conveniently, Mr Venables was un­employed after spending three years with Barcelona, the biggest club in world football, where, despite winning the Spanish championship and reaching the European Cup final, he failed to survive a poor start * the season.

The tale, at this point, took an unusual twist. Mr Venables, оn holiday in Florida, accepted the Tottenham job, but only after establishing.

guidelines that were possibly unique in the history of football management. Financially independent (he was thought to have earned £750 000 in Spain) and folly aware of Tottenham's predicament Mr Venables sought more than a substantial salary and bonus­es He would get shares in the club and a say in its overall running.

This was important in view of the great changes that had oc­curred at White Hart Lane since Mr Scholar took control. Tottenham became a thriving commercial enterprise, a public company engaged in marketing and promotion, to the detriment, some say, of the game.

«There used to be a football club over there», said Keith Burkinshaw, a left. «There was a time when we were important», a player said, «now we come second to those people knocking back booze in the executive boxes on match days. Of course, they would like a win­ning team, but they will never get one because the people who are re­sponsible for running the club are obsessed with making money».

However ambitious, the majority of managers might think twice before submitting themselves to such an atmosphere, but not Mr Ve­nables. If it was his destiny to manage the team he once cheered from the terraces, he was also given an opportunity to satisfy his restless nature.

Mr Venables was born in 1943 and became a professional foot­baller in 1960. He described his reaction to finding himself in the same team as his childhood hero, Johnny Brookes. «Not only was Johnny a great player, but also a great bloke. But for all his ability, he was one of the least confident players I ever met. At half-time, we were winning 2-1. I looked up and saw Johnny Brookes make for me. This was my big moment. Brookes with two hundred-and-odd league games and three international caps behind him, my idol. I waited in anticipation for words of wisdom. Do you know what he said? He asked me how I thought he was playing. I couldn't help it. I had to laugh».

John Hollins, who knew Mr Venables as a young player, said, “He was so sharp and clever, particularly when it came to talking about the game. Even theb you knew he would become an outstanding coach and manager”. Cliff Jones, the former Welsh international said, “Terry probably realized

that he fell a bit short of becoming a truly outstanding footballer. He had tremendous ability and a real mind for the game but he lacked pace, which is ironic because he sees that as the most important element. But there was never any doubt in my mind that Terry would establish himself as an excep­tional coach. I haven't come across many who talk as much sense about football».

In May 1984, after a successful career in English football as player, coach and manager, Mr Venables agreed to join Barcelona. The pressure in Spain could have cost him his marriage. His wife, Christine, who had remained loyally tight-lipped, stayed at their Eng­lish home in Essex, while Mr Venables went to Barcelona. He achieved much there, but football is always about tomorrow. Mr Ve­nables hoped it would come to the management of the English na­tional team at that time.

(Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Independent)

C. Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar in meaning to:

Paragraph 4 1. an unexpected development in the story 2. knew all about Tottenham's problems	Paragraph 6 4. drinking a lot of alcohol	Paragraph 9 6. not quite good enough 7. couldn't keep up with a fast game
Paragraph 5 3. having a harmful effect	Paragraph 8 5. profound advice	Paragraph 10 8. said nothing

D. Now read the text again and choose the best answer to the fol­lowing questions:

1. The Press gave Mr Venables a lot of coverage because

A. he used to be a very successful player.

B. he had a very persuasive personality.

C. he was a skilful manager.

D), he behaved in an unpredictable way.

2. Mr Venables' first connection with Tottenham was as a

A. player.

B. coach.

C. fan.

D. manager.

3. Mr Venables accepted the Tottenham job on condition that

A. he would have a voice in policy decisions.

B. his pay would be higher than it had been in Spain.

C. he had overall control of the club.

D. his bonus payments would be in the form of shares.

4. Some former supporters of Tottenham were hostile to the set-up on the grounds that

A. there was too much drinking.

B. the game was not the first priority.

C. the management did not appreciate the players.

D. making money wouldn't help the club.

5. When Johnny Brookes spoke to him, Mr Venables expected to hear

A. some advice.

B. a joke.

C. some critical remarks.

D. a question.

6. When Mr Venables was a young player people were very im­pressed by

A. his speed as a player.

B. his sense of humour.

C. his ability to talk about football.

D. his self-confidence.

7. Mr Venables' ambition was

A. to be reconciled with his wife.

B. for his club to win a major championship.

С to impose his ideas on Tottenham.

D. to be appointed manager of England,