Post by Salem6 on Jul 9, 2004 17:55:47 GMT
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Former England and Australia manager Terry Venables has agreed to coach Australian club Newcastle United in the country's revamped premier league next year, officials say.
Venables's last managerial post was an unsuccessful spell at Leeds United, which ended when he left the Yorkshire side in March 2003, but he is remembered more favourably in Australia.
He coached the Socceroos in their 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign, when the Australians narrowly missed out on a finals berth after losing a two-match playoff against Iran on away goals.
Newcastle United general manager Jock Graham described the appointment of the 61-year-old Venables as the most significant signing in his club's four-year history.
The signing was welcomed by Australian Soccer Association (ASA) head John O'Neill and visiting FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who said Venables could help attract other coaches and players to the Australian game.
"Perhaps his example will be followed by other coaches or other players coming in," Blatter told reporters.
Soccer, notoriously faction-riddled in the past in Australia, is undergoing a major revamp under former Australian Rugby Union boss O'Neill.
O'Neill took over as chief executive of the ASA after guiding Australia's hosting of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He has already announced that Australia's 13-team National Soccer League will be reduced to eight clubs, including one from New Zealand, when it resumes next year.
Venables guided England to the semi-finals of Euro '96 after winning a Spanish league title with Barcelona in 1985 and an FA Cup triumph with Tottenham in 1991.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=5627041&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news
Venables's last managerial post was an unsuccessful spell at Leeds United, which ended when he left the Yorkshire side in March 2003, but he is remembered more favourably in Australia.
He coached the Socceroos in their 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign, when the Australians narrowly missed out on a finals berth after losing a two-match playoff against Iran on away goals.
Newcastle United general manager Jock Graham described the appointment of the 61-year-old Venables as the most significant signing in his club's four-year history.
The signing was welcomed by Australian Soccer Association (ASA) head John O'Neill and visiting FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who said Venables could help attract other coaches and players to the Australian game.
"Perhaps his example will be followed by other coaches or other players coming in," Blatter told reporters.
Soccer, notoriously faction-riddled in the past in Australia, is undergoing a major revamp under former Australian Rugby Union boss O'Neill.
O'Neill took over as chief executive of the ASA after guiding Australia's hosting of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He has already announced that Australia's 13-team National Soccer League will be reduced to eight clubs, including one from New Zealand, when it resumes next year.
Venables guided England to the semi-finals of Euro '96 after winning a Spanish league title with Barcelona in 1985 and an FA Cup triumph with Tottenham in 1991.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=5627041&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news