Career
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, Celtic and Middlesbrough. His career started with his hometown team of Hartlepool United 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.
He joined Ipswich Town in 1997 after being exchanged for Steve Sedgley. He was given a free transfer by Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle at the end of 2002-2003.
Whilst playing for Cambridge United in 2003-2004, he fell out with the club and played the rest of that season on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge.
Venus was hired as Hibernian 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. After Mowbray was sacked by Middlesbrough in October 2013, Venus was made caretaker manager.
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson commented that Venus was on the shortlist of candidates to be the next permanent manager.
Mark Venus" tenure as caretaker manager came to an end on 13 November when Aitor Karanka was appointed as the new Middlesbrough head coach. Two medals awarded to Venus were stolen during a break-in at his house in the Morningside area of Edinburgh on 29 December 2010.