Sir Bobby Robson - A tribute to a true gentleman
The world of football lost one of its most famous sons yesterday. Sir Bobby Robson, the former Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Barcelona and England manager, passed away aged 76 following a long battle with lung cancer. Fans, players, pundits and managers have been paying their respect to Robson with heartfelt tributes and the game will definitely mourn his death.
Sir Robert William Robson was born on February 18, 1933, in Sacriston , County Durham. He began his playing career at Fulham and made his debut for the Cottagers in 1950, but six years later he joined West Bromwich Albion. At the Albion he became the club’s record signing, scoring 24 times in the 1957-58 season, and went on to captain the side. Robson’s impressive displays for the Baggies saw him earn a call up by England and he went on to pick up 20 caps for his country. However, in 1962 he returned to the Cottage and finished his career five years later.
Robson was offered the manager’s job at Craven Cottage just months after hanging up his boots but was unable to save them from the drop and was axed after just eight months at the helm. A year later he arrived at Ipswich Town where he really learned his trade and took the Suffolk club to dizzy new heights. During his 13-year spell at Portman Road, Robson guided Ipswich to two runners-up positions in the top flight, FA Cup success in 1978 against Arsenal and won the UEFA Cup in 1981 with victory over AZ 67 Alkmaar.
The England job then became available and Robson, the proud patriotic man that he was, just couldn’t turn it down. In 1986 he was denied the opportunity of success by the Hand of God in the quarter-finals against Argentina and in 1990 West Germany ended his dreams of reaching the World Cup Final on penalties.
Following that World Cup heartache he returned to club football but instead of returning to England he opted for the challenge of European football. His adventure started at PSV Eindhoven where he won back-to-back Dutch Championships before joining Sporting Lisbon in 1992. Robson finished third in his first season at the club and was top of the table in his second season when the chairman decided to sack him. Lisbon’s rivals FC Porto immediately snapped Robson up and the former England boss led them to back-to-back league titles and won the Portuguese Cup with victory in the final against Sporting.
Following four titles in six years, Spanish giants Barcelona wanted Robson as their manager and he signed for the Catalans in 1996. At the Nou Camp he won the Copa Del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in his first season before being moved upstairs as a General Manager. In 1998 he returned to PSV, narrowly missing out on the title but guaranteed them Champions League football.
But in 1999, at the age of 66, Robson landed his dream job as manager of Newcastle United. He won his first game in charge 8-0 but could only manage an 11th place finish in his first season. However Robson would soon work his magic on the team and led them to a fourth place finish in 2002 and went one better a year later by finishing third. However, after five years at the club he supported as a boy, Robson was sacked by the Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd after a poor start to the 2004/05 campaign.
Now I never had the pleasure of meeting the great man personally, but you only have to look at the papers and message boards to see how well-liked, honoured and respected he was by everyone in the game. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, even Maradona who ruined his World Cup hopes!
Robson lived and breathed football. I’ve heard stories about him arriving at training at 7.30am, taking the players through their drills and helping around football clubs before going home to get his tea only to head off out again to catch a live match. And then once he was home he would reportedly watch another game on tape! He also always made time for the fans.
Football was his life and the world will be a sorrier place without him.
Despite a long and established playing career Robson stated: “In all my time as a footballer, I never won a thing.” He may not have won any silverware as a player but he certainly won the hearts and minds of football fans, players and pundits across the globe. RIP Bobby, you will be sorely missed.
· Calling all football fans. What are your lasting memories of Sir Bobby Robson? Did you ever meet the great man? Do you think the FA should rename the FA Cup or League Cup the Sir Bobby Robson Cup? Would you like to see a statute of Robson outside Wembley Stadium? How will you remember Sir Bobby? I’d love to hear from you.
