Pep Guardiola praises Terry Venables’ ‘incredible impact’ at Barcelona

Pep Guardiola has characterised Terry Venables as a visionary and charismatic Barcelona coach whose singing of Frank Sinatra on Spanish television made him hugely popular in the county. The Manchester City manager paid tribute to Venables following his death on Sunday, aged 80.

Venables took charge of Barcelona in 1984 and led the club to their first La Liga title in 11 years. The following year he led Barça to their first ever European Cup final, which they lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.

Guardiola was a ballboy at Barcelona during Venables’ tenure, prior to captaining and managing the club himself with great distinction, and praised the Englishman for his impact at Camp Nou.

“As a Barcelona fan he gave us La Liga after 11 years. His impact was incredible there,” said Guardiola. “He introduced something that had never been before, especially a certain type of pressing and the set pieces.”

As a 15-year-old, Guardiola was pictured applauding Venables following the penalty shootout victory over Gothenburg that took Barcelona into the 1986 European Cup final. “He introduced many, many things; a true gentleman,” Guardiola added. “I was a ballboy so I wasn’t in [direct] contact with him – I just gave the ball to his players. Unfortunately he could not win the Champions League at that time, with the final against Steaua Bucharest.

Pep Guardiola (left) applauds Terry Venables after Barcelona’s European Cup semi-final triumph against IFK Gothenburg in 1986.

“It’s a big loss for English football and for his family, for his wife. I read a lot in the past 24 hours, how many players talk about him from the national team and former players. It is really impressive and big condolences to all his family.”

Asked if Venables will be missed in Barcelona, Guardiola replied: “Absolutely. In that era I was 13 or 14 years old so it was the first time I saw us win La Liga. For many years it was not possible because of other teams. The impact in that time, it was about two seasons, so not long but the impact on the way they play – I remember talking to friends of mine who did play with him and their words for him not just as a manager but as a person so funny, singing Frank Sinatra on Catalan shows. He was a proper, proper man.”

Guardiola is also considered a visionary coach, though concedes he was too young to be directly influenced by Venables. “I was 13 or 14 – I wasn’t thinking I’d play for Barcelona or become a manager,” he said. “I just thought how much fun it is to see my club winning games. I wasn’t paying attention to his influence.

“I learned about it afterwards and to see Gary Neville or Gary Lineker or Gareth Southgate talking about him [Venables], you realise how important he was.”