If anybody can succeed as manager, it’s Barmby, says ex-boss Venables

As Nick Barmby prepares for his bow as Hull City manager, Yorkshire Post chief football writer Richard Sutcliffe speaks exclusively to Terry Venables about his former protege

TO Terry Venables, Nick Barmby was always a manager’s dream.

Now, the 68-year-old believes his former protege is ready to bring the same qualities that made the former England international such a joy to coach into management with Hull City.

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Barmby has this week stepped up to become his hometown club’s manager following the departure of Nigel Pearson to Leicester City. He may be referred to as Hull’s ‘caretaker’ manager but there is nothing temporary about the posting, director of football operations Adam Pearson admitting yesterday: “We will give Nick all the time and support that we can to establish himself in the job and get the team playing how he wants it to play.”

Barmby is, therefore, at Hull for the long haul and Venables, who managed the Hull chief three times during a playing career that is in its 20th season, could not be more delighted.

“I was really pleased when I heard the news,” said the former England manager when speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post yesterday. “I have always thought Nick would one day move into management and I am delighted he has now done so with his hometown club.

“I have known Nick since he was a young lad, probably 15 or 16. And even at that age, he stood out as an intelligent thinker about the game. You only had to tell him once about something and he would immediately realise what the coaches wanted.

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“Sometimes at such an age, that isn’t always the case. The great thing with Nick is he never forgot what he was told, either.

“I have always said that you learn with your ears and not your tongue, and Nick definitely fell into that category. Even after we went our separate ways at Spurs, I followed his career closely and I will definitely be doing that again now he has moved into management.”

Venables was the manager who gave Barmby not only his debut in professional football when the pair were at White Hart Lane together but also his England bow in 1995 against Uruguay.

He went on to feature in three of England’s five Euro 96 games as Venables led the Three Lions to the semi-finals, where defeat to Germany brought the curtain down on Venables’s time as manager.

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Barmby went on to play international football for Glenn Hoddle and Sven Goran Eriksson, scoring the first goals of both men’s reigns, along with a host of club managers but it is Venables who the new Tigers chief is most commonly associated with.

“Nick was a manager’s dream,” said Venables, who made Barmby his first signing as Leeds United manager in the summer of 2002.

“When I first saw him at Spurs, there was never any doubt in my mind that he would make it. He was a great kid to work with and I have always thought the world of him.

“Nick was a very dedicated young man, always on the training pitch when the others had gone home and looking at ways to improve. I always admired that about Nick and see it as a factor in how well his career went.”

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Barmby was earmarked for a bright future in football from a young age, his skills on the playing fields of Hull quickly bringing him to the attention of England Schoolboys selectors.

He left the East Riding at the age of just 14 to join the Football Association’s National School of Excellence at Lilleshall. A first professional contract followed with Spurs two years later, the London club pipping a host of rivals to the signature of one of the country’s most sought-after young stars.

After making more than 100 appearances for Tottenham and losing two FA Cup semi-finals, Barmby moved to Middlesbrough for a then club-record fee of £5.25m in 1995.

Fifteen months later, another record fee – this time £5.75m – took Barmby to Everton, where he went on to spend four years before controversially crossing Stanley Park to join Liverpool for £6m.

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It was at Anfield where he lifted the UEFA Cup and League Cup in 2001, successes that he has since added to by helping Hull to two promotions and ending the city’s long wait for top-flight football.

Now, as the first Hull-born manager of the club, Barmby is eagerly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead – starting with Saturday’s trip to Derby County.

He said: “I am very proud and honoured when I was asked (to take on the job). Football is strange at times. We were going along quite nicely but now we have had a change of management.

“We just need to stabilise the club, so for the owners of the club and Adam Pearson to ask me to do that was a very proud moment for me and my family.”

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On the task ahead, Barmby added: “There isn’t a lot broken at the moment, even though we have lost our last two games. You would be a fool to come in and change things radically because there isn’t a lot wrong.

“We know what we want to do and the main thing is that we focus on the way we have been playing – not letting too many goals in and scoring a few more at the other end.”

Hull travel to Pride Park this weekend sitting ninth, just one point adrift of the play-off spots with a game in hand.

With a midweek trip to leaders Southampton and a home game against Nigel Pearson’s Leicester City to come in the next 16 days along with the visit of Burnley, Barmby faces a testing start.

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It is, though, a challenge Barmby is well equipped to handle, according to Venables.

“Moving into management is something I see as a natural progression for someone like Nick,” said the former England manager. “He will bring a lot of experience to the role along with a tremendous work ethic.

“Even after we were no longer working together, I followed his career closely. I always had him down as a potential manager and someone who can do well in the job. His temperament is just right, as Nick is a very level-headed individual.

“He got to the top as a player and I see no reason why he now can’t do the same as a manager. It is not an easy job, if anything it is getting harder. But if anyone can succeed as a manager then it is Nick Barmby.”