Mark Venus
Encyclopedia
Mark Venus is an English
football coach
and former player. As a player, he spent the majority of his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Ipswich Town
. As a coach, he has served as an assistant manager to Tony Mowbray
at Hibernian
, West Bromwich Albion and Celtic
. He is currently assistant manager at Middlesbrough
.
where he signed as a youngster in 1985. After a stay at Leicester City
, he signed in 1987 for Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Over nearly a decade at Molineux
, Venus was an integral part of the club's resurrection after bankruptcy. Playing left back and, occasionally in his preferred position of central defence, Venus helped Wolves to Divisions Four and Three championships. An often unsung player, Venus was noted for his left foot.
He joined Ipswich Town
in 1997 after being exchanged for Steve Sedgley
. With Ipswich Town he won the 1999-2000 First Division play-offs, and then finished 5th in the Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Cup
. Ipswich were relegated in 2001-02, but Venus picked up the club's Player of the Year award. He was given a free transfer by Ipswich Town manager
Joe Royle
at the end of 2002-03.
Whilst playing for Cambridge United
in 2003-04, he fell out with the club and played the rest of that season on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge
.
assistant manager by his former Ipswich Town teammate Tony Mowbray
in 2004. Venus also registered as a player for Hibs, but played in only one match before ending his playing career. He returned to the West Midlands
in October 2006 by following Mowbray to West Bromwich Albion
. Their first game in charge was a Black Country derby
against Wolves, where Venus had spent the bulk of his playing career.
Venus was appointed Celtic
assistant manager on 16 June 2009, again following Mowbray. After Mowbray was sacked as Celtic
manager in March 2010, Venus and Peter Grant
also left the club.
Venus was appointed assistant manager of Middlesbrough
on 26 October 2010, working again with Mowbray.
area of Edinburgh
on 29 December 2010.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former player. As a player, he spent the majority of his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. As a coach, he has served as an assistant manager to Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray
Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...
at Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, West Bromwich Albion and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He is currently assistant manager at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Playing career
His career started with his hometown team of Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
where he signed as a youngster in 1985. After a stay at Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, he signed in 1987 for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. Over nearly a decade at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, Venus was an integral part of the club's resurrection after bankruptcy. Playing left back and, occasionally in his preferred position of central defence, Venus helped Wolves to Divisions Four and Three championships. An often unsung player, Venus was noted for his left foot.
He joined Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in 1997 after being exchanged for Steve Sedgley
Steve Sedgley
Stephen Philip "Steve" Sedgley is an English former professional footballer who made more than 450 appearances in the Football League and Premier League for Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played as a midfielder or defender...
. With Ipswich Town he won the 1999-2000 First Division play-offs, and then finished 5th in the Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Ipswich were relegated in 2001-02, but Venus picked up the club's Player of the Year award. He was given a free transfer by Ipswich Town manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Joe Royle
Joe Royle
Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team...
at the end of 2002-03.
Whilst playing for Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in 2003-04, he fell out with the club and played the rest of that season on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
.
Coaching career
Venus was hired as HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
assistant manager by his former Ipswich Town teammate Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray
Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...
in 2004. Venus also registered as a player for Hibs, but played in only one match before ending his playing career. He returned to the West Midlands
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
in October 2006 by following Mowbray to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. Their first game in charge was a Black Country derby
Black Country derby
The Black Country derby is most commonly the local derby between the English football teams West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The term 'Black Country derby' can also be given to a match between either of these teams and Walsall F.C., though such matches are less common as a result...
against Wolves, where Venus had spent the bulk of his playing career.
Venus was appointed Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
assistant manager on 16 June 2009, again following Mowbray. After Mowbray was sacked as Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
manager in March 2010, Venus and Peter Grant
Peter Grant (footballer)
Peter Grant is a Scottish former footballer and was, until October 2007, manager of Norwich City. This was Grant's first role in management, but he had previously held coaching jobs at Bournemouth, West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion...
also left the club.
Venus was appointed assistant manager of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 26 October 2010, working again with Mowbray.
Personal life
Two medals awarded to Venus were stolen during a break-in at his house in the MorningsideMorningside, Edinburgh
Morningside is a district in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is south of the areas of Bruntsfield, Burghmuirhead ; south-west of Marchmont, and south-east of Merchiston...
area of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 29 December 2010.