Venables can succeed at Leeds: O'Leary

David O'Leary has tipped Terry Venables to succeed at Leeds United after the former England and Barcelona manager was named as the club's coach on Monday.

O'Leary was sacked by the premier league side last month but remains proud of his achievements at the Yorkshire club and believes that his successor has inherited a squad that will vie for the title next season.

In an interview published in The Sun on Tuesday, O'Leary said: "All I wish Terry is good luck in the job at Leeds. It doesn't matter to me who is in the job now, but I really do wish him well."

The 59-year-old Venables has signed a two-year contract and will be presented to the media at a news conference on Wednesday, and O'Leary told the paper that "he just has to go on and win something for Leeds".

"Terry is very experienced in coaching and management and has built up a fantastic reputation for himself down the years," O'Leary added.

"I honestly believe that if he can keep hold of the players there, then he will certainly win something.

"The fact is that Terry has got to go in there, take it on and turn it into trophies.

"Providing he doesn't suffer the same kind of off-field problems that I had to contend with over the last couple of years at the club, then he can do that without any shadow of doubt."

O'Leary spent four years as manager of Leeds and led the side to the Champions League and UEFA Cup semi-finals and finished fifth in the premier league in the last two seasons but failed to win any trophies.

"I have left Terry with a top-class squad packed with experience and talent.

"With a bit of luck, I don't think he will be far away from the title this season.

"The team is in place there and they have shown their ability over the past four years," he said.