Bobby Robson

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Sir Robert William Robson (18 February 1933-to-date) was an English footballer and football manager.

His career included stints with England's national team, later directing the England national team, as well as being a UEFA Cup-winning manager at Ipswich Town F.C. Robson's professional playing career as an inside forward spanned almost 20 years, including stints with Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, and, briefly, the Vancouver Royals.

He made 20 appearances for England, scoring four goals.

He enjoyed success as both a player and international manager, winning league championships in both the Netherlands and Portugal, and England's semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, marking the national team's best run in a World Cup since 1966.

His last work as a mentor to the Republic of Ireland's national team's manager was as a mentor. Robson was made a Knight Bachelor in 2002 and was appointed as a member of the England Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and he was the honorary president of Ipswich Town, F.C. He suffered with chronic illness from 1991 to 2010, and in March 2008, he founded the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a cancer research charity that has so far donated more than £12 million (March 2018).

His lung cancer was confirmed to be terminal in August 2008; he said, "My illness is stable and has not changed since my last bout of chemotherapy." I'll die sooner rather than later.

However, everyone has to go somewhere, and I have loved every minute." He died just under a year later.

Early life

Bobby Robson was born in Sacriston, County Durham, and fourth of Philip and Lilian Robson's fourth sons (née Watt). Robson's family moved to Langley Park, where his father was a coal miner, just a few months old. There was no toilet or an outside toilet in their two-bedroom house. He was often taken by his father to watch Newcastle United play at St James' Park on Saturday afternoons as a youth, requiring a 34-mile round trip. Jackie Milburn and Len Shackleton were two of Robson's childhood heroes. Both played for Newcastle in the inside-forward role, which Robson would later take over as a player throughout his career.

After failing his eleven-plus, Robson attended Langley Park primary school and then Waterhouses Secondary modern school, but the headmaster did not authorize the school football team to play in a league. Rather, he started playing for Langley Park Juniors on Saturday mornings at the age of 11, and by the time he was 15, he was representing the club at an under-18 age. Robson played football whenever he could, but in Langley Park, Virginia, he went back to school aged 15 to start working as an electrician's apprentice for the National Coal Board. Bill Dodgin, Fulham's boss, paid a personal visit to the Robson household in May 1950 to tell Bobby Bobby that he had been given a professional contract. Despite being offered a job by nearby Middlesbrough, Dodgin's bid was too tempting to refuse, so he signed for Fulham and moved to London, playing as a wing half and inside forward. Robson was also keen on Newcastle, but he decided to join Fulham because, "Newcastle made no attempt to obtain [my] signature," Robson said. He also believed he had a good chance of joining Fulham's first team. Robson had partial deafness in one ear, making him ineligible to be called up for national service.

Life outside football

Robson returned to Langley Park with Elsie Gray. Gray became a student nurse and then a teacher. They were married on June 25, 1955, with Fulham teammate Tom Wilson as Robson's top man.

Robson was frequently diagnosed with cancer after 1991. He had multiple operations, and in 2006 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Robson had malignant melanoma at Porto, resulting in his missing the first few months of the 1995-96 season. Robson had been given the all-clear and was expected to see him out as a consultant to the Irish team on October 17, 2006. For the fifth time, Robson revealed on May 7 that he had been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time. Robson was the guest of honour at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2008, when Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City 1–0. Sol Campbell, the vicious captain, presented the trophy to the victors.

Robson did a number of product endorsements, including an appearance in Carlsberg's "Best Pub Side" television commercial. During the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004, he also served as a pundit for ITV.

Robson beat bowel cancer in 1992, a malignant melanoma in 1995, as well as a tumour in his right lung and a brain tumor, both in 2006. After the melanoma was surgically removed, treatment of these disorders had left him partially paralysed due to a stroke caused by the brain tumor, as well as partially prosthetic upper jaw. In 2007, his fifth diagnosis of cancer, consisting of cancerous nodules in both lungs, was diagnosed as terminal, and as of December 2008, it was being controlled by bouts of chemotherapy. Robson dedicated the remaining years of his life to fighting the disease after these experiences and following his fifth diagnosis with cancer. Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was founded on March 25, 2008. The Foundation raised over £1 million, which funded the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, and will continue to fund other cancer research in the North East of England.

Robson's 1990 World Cup semi-final 4–3 loss after penalties against West Germany on July 26, 2009, was replayed as the Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match at St James' Park, featuring players from the original 1990 World Cup squads and other special guests in aid of the Foundation. Until the game, which ended 3–2 to the England team, Robson was given a guard of honour.

The Foundation had raised £1.6 million at the time of Robson's death. The Foundation had received over £156,000 in the 18 days following Robson's death, and it was announced on October 15, 2009, that Robson's nephew, Alan Shearer, would take over Robson's position as the Foundation's patron. In September 2010, it crossed the £2.5 million mark. In 2010, Steve Gibson, Mick Mills, and Niall Quinn were among the new patrons.

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Playing career

Though Robson had earned his degree, his father insisted that he continue to work as an electrician. He spent the day on the Festival of Britain website and trained three nights at Fulham. Robson eventually had his toll, and he turned to full-time professional football.

Robson made his first-team debut for Fulham, who recently promoted to the First Division, in a match against Sheffield Wednesday. Fulham was regarded as "a nice club, a social club," but "never... a serious, championship-challenging team." Sadly, he and Fulham were relegated from the top-flight in the 1951-52 season, but he returned to the First Division four years later, signing for Vic Buckingham's West Bromwich Albion in March 1956. At the time, West Brom's transfer fee of £25,000 was a club record.

In a 4–0 home loss to Manchester City on March 10, 1956, he made his West Brom debut on his first visit. He was the club's top league goalscorer from 1957–58, with four goals, four of which included four in a 5–1 victory over Burnley. He continued to play 257 games and scored 61 goals for West Brom, and he captained the team during the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons while also serving as a midfielder. However, he returned to Fulham in August 1962 after a spat with West Brom vice chairman Jim Gaunt over his pay. Robson's second son's birth prompted Robson to demand a higher salary despite the ongoing feud over minimum and maximum salaries in the game, which was initiated by Robson's colleague Jimmy Hill and the Professional Footballers' Union. Gaunt refused to discuss Robson's employment, so Robson made a transfer request and was sold to Fulham for £20,000, which doubled his pay. Robson's odds of receiving any significant recognition there were significantly diminished shortly after Robson joined Fulham. "I didn't win a single thing in all my time as a footballer," Robson said.

Despite press coverage of Arsenal's passion and the offering of a player-manager position at Southend United, Robson left Fulham in 1967 and agreed to a three-year contract with Canada's Vancouver Royals. In his inaugural 1968 season in the North American Soccer League (NASL), he was to be the head coach, and said it was "too good to pass". In the Fall of 1967, he started scouting and holding tryout camps for the new team. Ferenc Pusk's control over the San Francisco section of the squad was difficult, despite Robson's care for the Vancouver squad. Robson was dissatisfied with the situation, and when Fulham offered him a contract as their boss in January 1968, he accepted the position at Craven Cottage.

Robson played on two ambassadorial Football Association tours in the West Indies in 1955 and 1956 during his first stay in Fulham. However, he made his way to the full England squad during his time in West Bromwich Albion when he first appeared in 1956. Robson's boss, Vic Buckingham, recommended the "push and run" strategy to the game, a precursor to "real football," and he played this. Robson completed the West Brom squad in 1956.

Robson made 20 appearances for the England national team after making his debut against France in November 1957, scoring twice in a 4–0 win. Despite a good debut, he was disqualified for England's next match, against Scotland, in favour of Bobby Charlton. However, Robson was chosen for the 1958 FIFA World Cup squad, ahead of Nat Lofthouse and Stanley Matthews, but returning from host country Sweden was dissatisfied after England was defeated by the Soviet Union in a group play-off match.

Robson became a permanent member of the England squad from October 1960 to March 1961, notably scoring a goal in the historic 9-3 victory over Scotland at Wembley Stadium. He was chosen for the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile, but an ankle injury suffered in a pre-tournament friendly against a Chilean club side barred him from participating in the majority of the competition. "I never played for England again," Robson said, "my international career was unfulfilled." Bobby Moore took his place in the England team.

Managerial career

Walter Winterbottom, then England boss and the Football Association (FA) director of coaching, told Robson that he should take a coaching course at Lilleshall in 1959. During his second stint at Fulham, he gained coaching experience and taught Oxford University A.F.C. In the third round of the FA Cup, Robson made his managerial debut in January 1968 against Macclesfield Town and later in the Cheshire County League. Fulham were losing 16 points out of 24 matches. Despite Robertson's purchase of young Malcolm Macdonald, the club did not save it from relegation to the Second Division, and Robson left them in November after finishing eighth in the Second Division. He discovered he was fired not from the club, but from the headline "Robson sacked" on an Evening Standard placard outside Putney station.

Robson came to Ipswich Town in 1969, and it was there that he established himself as a good manager, first by club chairman John Cobbold and later by his brother Patrick Cobbold. Following a chance meeting with Town director Murray Sangster while scouting at Portman Road for Chelsea boss Dave Sexton, he was given the vacant job at the Suffolk club. Robson coached Ipswich to fourth position in the First Division and triumph in the 1972–73 season, after four mediocre seasons. Ipswich finished in the First Division for the second time in the 1977-1978 season, just barely placing sixth in the upcoming nine seasons. Nonetheless, the FA Cup final, which was a success, with a 1–0 win over Arsenal. His time at Ipswich spanned 13 years, during which time the club twice finished as League runners-up and made regular appearances in European competitions, winning the UEFA Cup in 1981 over Dutch side AZ 67 Alkmaar. "We played with two strikers, no wingers, Eric Gates, standing off the front two, two semi-wide midfield players in Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen, with Johnny Wark in the holding role," Robson said. During his 13-year career, he took in only 14 players from other clubs, most notably Allan Hunter, John Wark, Mick Mills, Colin Viljoen, Alan Brazil, Trevor Whyman, Kevin Beattie, and Eric Gates, who went on to play international football, including Terry Butcher, George Burley, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, John Wark, relying on players from Ipswiche he took in s from other clubs, including Allan, including Allan, John Wark, Colin, Colin Viljoen, Colin Viljoen, Kevin Beattie, and Kevin Beattie, who allan, who left relying, Kevin Beattie, Peter Ben, Frans Thijssen and Arnold Mühren were two Dutch players who were imports. Robson "was not a tactical genius," but he "exhibited a gift for assisting new players with their warm interpersonal skills, compassionate attitude, hard work, and enthusiasm for them to succeed."

Robson's life-size statue was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand of Ipswich Town in 2002, in recognition of his services with the club. Robson was elected honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club on July 7, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold, who had died in 1987.

Robson's work with Ipswich earned him a contract extension and more money from the Football Association, but he turned down an offer of a ten-year contract extension and increased pay from Ipswich chief Patrick Cobbold. Two days after England was kicked out of the 1982 World Cup, Ron Greenwood replaced Ron Greenwood as the England national team's head coach, selecting former West Bromwich Albion teammate Don Howe as his head coach.

When Robson's first match as boss, he sparked controversies when he dropped Kevin Keegan against Denmark. Robson lost his only match in the 28 qualifying matches he was to play as England boss on September 21, 1983. The loss, which happened again to Denmark, resulted in England's inability to qualify for the 1984 European Championships, which resulted in Robson's resignation in favour of Brian Clough. Bert Millichip's resignation was largely due to his and the FA's disdain for Clough), but Robson went on to lead the England team to qualify for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

England's captain, Bryan Robson, was suspended after a bout of a dislocated shoulder, and captain Bryan Robson was injured. Bobby Robson redesigned the team's tactics for the final match of the first round by picking Peter Beardsley ahead of Mark Hateley as a strike partner for Gary Lineker. The team won the quarter-finals against Poland and Paraguay, 3–0, and qualified for the next two matches. England was defeated in the last eight by Argentina with a brace of goals from Diego Maradona, the infamous "Hand of God" goal and "Goal of the Century" he scored five minutes later. Robson was unimpressed by Maradona's assertion of divine intervention: he was unimpressed by the woman's assertion of divine intervention.

England lost only one point in qualifying for Euro 1988, which included an 8–0 win over Turkey. However, this was followed by disappointment at the tournament itself, which was held in West Germany, where England was disqualified in the group stage. They finished last in their group, losing to losses against the Republic of Ireland, the eventual winners of the EU, and the eventual runners-up, the Soviet Union. One newspaper demanded, "In the name of Allah, go," Robson was vilified by the British press, and after a draw in a friendly with Saudi Arabia, one newspaper demanded, "In the name of Allah, go." Robson resigned again, but Millichip turned it down (again, Brian Clough was often blamed for this).

Through six-match qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, where they were one of six seeded teams, Robson led England without losing a single point. They were placed in a group with the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, with Egypt as the fourth side. Robson was refused the services of his captain, Bryan Robson, who sustained his Achilles tendon that prevented him from participating in the tournament's later stages. England won the qualifying group, collecting four points from their three matches. However, their achievements were not without controversy. England changed lineup from their traditional 4–4–2 to a 5–3–2 sweeper, with some reporting that this was due to a player revolt after the 1–1 draw in the Republic of Ireland's first match.

Robson denied this claim:

This was followed by victories over Belgium and Cameroon in the knock-out stages, putting them up for a semi-final with West Germany. Following extra time, England lost the game on a penalty shoot-out after the score had been tied at 1–1 after extra time. "Not a day goes by when [he] does not worry about the semi-finals and other choices [he] may have made," Robson said later. Robson was England's second coach after Alf Ramsey's return to England, and the first coach to do so on foreign soil, an achievement not equalled until Gareth Southgate's team reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

England's last game in charge of Robson was the third-place play-off against Italy, which England lost 21-01.

The FA told Robson that he would not renew his role as England manager, so he went back to the Netherlands to replace him as England's head coach, PSV Eindhoven, who had left the team after winning the European Cup and four straight Economy titles. PSV wanted a coach with the ability to instill discipline in a tumultuous team, as Hiddink had previously done. Robson characterized the change as "a culture shock," but the move was still felt as "a sense of adventure." Robson's new position in the Netherlands was revealed before the 1990 World Cup, sparking tabloid reports mocking Robson's patriotism; he sued Today for calling him a "traitor."

Robson was taken aback by the Dutch penchant for rhetorical debate. "An English pro accepts the manager's decision," he said in a Voetbal International interview. The replacements have arrived and visited me after every match here." The Brazilian international Romário was another of PSV's challenges. Robson became dissatisfied with the Brazilian's work ethic, but he said "in some matches he'd be scintillating." With Romário's assistant, Robson, acting as a translator, Robson arranged showdown talks. The negotiations were fruitless, with Romário's inability to change his diet. Despite all this, PSV has been the Economist in the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons. However, the team did not make the strides as expected by the board in European competitions, and Robson was informed that he would leave the team at the end of the 1991–92 season.

In July 1992, Robson became a Sporting CP manager, where his Portuguese interpreter, José Mourinho, future Porto, Chelsea, Internazionale, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Roma boss dominated. In his first season as manager, Robson led the club to a third-place finish, despite admitting that the team was in "a bad shape." He referred to the club's president as a "loose cannon" who regularly signed players without Robson's permission. Robson was fired in December 1993, despite the club being in last place in the standings. Sousa Cintra, the club's early withdrawal from the UEFA Cup, in the custody of Casino Salzburg, was cited as the reason for his dismissal.

Porto's Sporting Couty Rivals Soon, Robson was hired as his assistant manager, with Mourinho named as his assistant manager. André Villas-Boas, a young André Villas-Boas, was living in the same apartment block at the time with another potential Porto, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur manager, who welcomed Robson at age 16. Robson then recruited Villas-Boas to work in the Porto observation branch and helped him obtain his UEFA "C" coaching badge in Scotland, despite him legally being ineligible as he aged 17. When Robson arrived, Porto was in a poor shape, and the average attendance had decreased to 10,000. Following that success with successive League titles in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons, the club went on to defeat Robson's former club, Sporting CP, in the Taça de Portugal final.

Such was Robson's time at Porto, he became known as "Bobby Five-O" in honor of the number of games played, and he signed a new deal with the club in 1995. Robson had malignant melanoma and missed the first few months of the 1995–96 season. He also helped Porto defend their league crown.

A phone call between Barcelona vice president Joan Gaspart and Lu's Figo during the summer of 1996 resulted in an offer of employment with the Spanish club. Robson took over in July 1996, where Mourinho had previously been Mourinho; Robson had made Mourinho's transfer to the Camp Nou a condition of his employment. Robson made one of the key decisions during his brief stay in Barcelona, Ronaldo's US$19.5 million move, who was instrumental in a season when Barcelona defeated Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espaa, and the European Champions' Cup was one of the major decisions made during his time in Barcelona. Robson was named European Manager of the Year in 1996–97, though Ronaldo said, "as a coach without doubt [Robson] is one of the best in the world."

Robson took over as director of the 1997–99 season, with Louis van Gaal taking over as manager, but Robson stayed in this position for just one season before returning to PSV on a short-term contract in 1998–99. PSV finished third in the league standings behind Feyenoord and Willem II, but Robson led the team to triumph in the Johan Cruyff Shield and also qualification for the UEFA Champions League on the last day of the season.

Robson returned to England to take up a role in the Football Association's technical department following Ruud Gullit's dismissal at Newcastle United in September 1999, but Robson resigned to St James' Park in September 1999. Robson was dissatisfied with the club's opening salary estimate, saying, "I]t was miles below the going rate." But, Robson went into a one-year, £1 million contract.

Newcastle thrashes second bottom Sheffield on Wednesday, beating them 8–0 in Robson's first home game under new ownership. Robson led the team to an 11th-place finish in his first season as coach, 1999–2000, with 14 victories from his 32 matches in charge. The FA asked Newcastle club chairman Freddy Shepherd to welcome Robson as a part-time caretaker in late 2000, but the request was turned down. Newcastle was coached by Robson from the bottom of the Premier League to a fourth-place finish in the 2001–02 season. Newcastle finished third in the second year in a row, ensuring qualification for the UEFA Champions League. However, Robson was unable to lead Newcastle through the Champions League qualifying rounds, and the club was refused to participate in the UEFA Cup for the 2003-2004 season. Newcastle finished fifth in the table last season, five points shy of the Champions League qualifying fourth place, but the UEFA Cup semifinals were held in Marseille before losing to Marseille.

After a slow start to the Premier League season and alleged dissatisfaction in the dressing room, Robson held the Newcastle Post until August 30, 2004, when he was fired by Freddy Shepherd. Robson's suspension came after the announcement that he had been off the record in that only 5,000 fans attended the traditional lap of honour at St James' Park at the end of the previous season. Nonetheless, he is still held in the highest regard by the followers; he was granted the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne on March 2, 2005.

Bobby Robson's autobiography, titled Bobby Robson, says farewell but not Goodbye, was released in 2005. The name is based on one of his quotes after leaving the England job in 1990: "I'm here to say goodbye—perhaps not goodbye but farewell." Robson was critical of Shepherd, claiming that although he was denied access to the players' contracts and transfer negotiations, he was dismissive of the negotiations. Shepherd and the club's deputy chairman Douglas Hall were also chastised for focusing on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous topics, such as the training ground, youth involvement, and talent scouts. Robson's replacement, Graeme Souness, was blamed for a string of injuries affecting first team players.

Robson turned down the opportunity to head football of Heart of Midlothian because he wanted to remain in the Newcastle area. Steve Staunton was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland national team on January 13, 2006, with Robson taking over as "international football consultant" in a support role. Following the country's last match in their losing qualifying campaign for Euro 2008, Robson resigned from his role as advisor on November 17, 2007. Robson, a former vice president of the League Managers Association, served as a non-executive officer.

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