Bobby Robson

Bobby Robson

Football manager infobox
playername = Sir Bobby Robson


fullname = Sir Robert William Robson
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1933|2|18|df=y
cityofbirth = Sacriston, County Durham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
position = Inside-forward
years = 1950–1956
1956–1962
1962–1967
1967–1968
clubs = Fulham
West Bromwich Albion
Fulham Vancouver Royals
caps(goals) = 152 (68)
239 (56)
192 0(9)
00- 0(-)
nationalyears = 1957–1962
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 020 0(4)
manageryears = 1968
1969–1982 1982–1990
1990–1992 1992–1994
1994–1996 1996–1997
1998–1999
1999–2004
2006–2007
managerclubs = Fulham Ipswich Town
England
PSV Eindhoven
Sporting Lisbon
FC Porto
FC Barcelona
PSV Eindhoven
Newcastle United
Republic of Ireland (Special Consultant)

Sir Robert William Robson Kt CBE (born 18 February 1933), commonly known as Sir Bobby Robson (IPAEng|ˈbɒbi ˈrɒbsən), is a former international football player and former manager of several European clubs and the England national football team.

His professional playing career as an inside-forward spanned nearly 20 years, during which he played for just three clubs – Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and briefly for the defunct Vancouver Royals. He also made 20 appearances for England, scoring four goals.

He is now better known for his success as both a club and international manager, having won league championships in both the Netherlands and Portugal, earning trophies in England and Spain, and taking England to the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup. He was most recently a mentor to the manager of the Irish national football team.

Robson was created a Knight Bachelor in 2002, is a member of the English Football Hall of Fame and is the honorary president of Ipswich Town. He has, since 1991, had recurrent medical problems with cancer, and in August 2008, he admitted defeat to lung cancer. He stated "My condition is described as static and has not altered since my last bout of chemotherapy...I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute".

Early life

Born in Sacriston, County Durham, Robson was the fourth of five sons of Philip and Lilian Robson (née Watt). [cite book
last = Robson
first = Bobby
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
year = 2005
pages = p6
chapter = Going underground
isbn = 034582347X
] When he was just a few months old, Robson's family moved to the nearby village of Langley Park where his father was a coal miner. As a boy, he was often taken by his father to watch Newcastle United at St James' Park, requiring a bus ride or a walk of several miles.cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/news/432906.stm
title=Robson: Dream to manage Newcastle
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-06-13
date=1999-09-30
] [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p15
] Robson describes Jackie Milburn and Len Shackleton as his childhood heroes. Both played for Newcastle in the inside-forward position, the position Robson would later assume during his playing career.Robson began to play football for Langley Park Juniors on Saturday mornings at the age of eleven, and by the time he was 15, he was representing the club at Under-18 level. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p8
] Robson played football whenever he possibly could but also worked as an electrician's apprentice for the National Coal Board in the Langley Park colliery. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p1
] In May 1950, Bill Dodgin, the Fulham manager made a personal visit to the Robson household to offer Bobby a professional contract. Despite being offered a contract by nearby Middlesbrough, the offer made by Dodgin was too attractive to turn down, so he signed for Fulham and moved to London,cite book
last = Robson
pages = pp18–19
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
] Cite web
url = http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersDetail/0,,10278~560999,00.html
title = Newcastle United F.C. History - Bobby Robson
accessdate = 2007-08-30
publisher = Newcastle United F.C.
] playing as a wing-half and inside-forward. Robson had also interested his beloved Newcastle, but he opted to join Fulham as, in his opinion, "Newcastle made no appreciable effort to secure [my] signature".

Playing career

Club playing career

Although Robson had signed professionally, his father insisted he continue to work as an electrician. He spent the day working at the Festival of Britain site and trained three nights a week at Fulham. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p20
] Eventually this took its toll on Robson and he gave up his trade for full-time football. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p21
]

Robson made his debut in 1950 for Fulham, recently promoted to the First Division, in a match against Sheffield Wednesday. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p24
] He came to regard Fulham as "a nice club, a social club..." but "never...a serious, championship-challenging club". [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p25, p28
] Indeed, he and Fulham were relegated from the top-flight in the 1951–52 season, [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1055&seasonid=81
title = Final 1951/1952 English Division 1 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2007-05-16
] but he made his return to the First Division, four years later, when he signed for Vic Buckingham's West Bromwich Albion in March 1956.Cite web
url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/manager?id=31
title = Sir Bobby Robson
publisher = ESPN
accessdate = 2007-05-15
] The transfer fee of £25,000 was a club record for Albion at the time. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p29
chapter = Tales From The Riverbank
] [cite book
last = Matthews
first = Tony
coauthors=Mackenzie, Colin
title = Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987
publisher = Breedon Books
year = 1987
pages = p294
isbn = 0-907969-23-2
]

He made his Albion debut in a 4–0 home defeat by Manchester City on 10 March 1956.cite book | last = Matthews | first = Tony | title = The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion | publisher = Breedon Books | year = 2005 | pages = pp202–203 | isbn = 1-85983-474-4] In 1957–58 he was the club's top league goalscorer; his tally of 24 goals included four in a 5–1 win against Burnley. [cite book | last=Matthews | first=Tony | title=West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record | publisher=Breedon Books | year=2007 | pages = p. 172 & 292 | isbn=978-1-85983-565-4] [Ronnie Allen was the club's top scorer overall, with 28 goals.] He went on to play 257 games and score 61 goals for West Bromwich Albion and captained the team for the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons. [cite book
last=McOwan
first=Gavin
title=The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion
publisher=Headline | year=2002 |pages=pp252–253
id=ISBN 0-7553-1146-9
] In August 1962, however, he returned to Fulham after a disagreement with Albion vice-chairman Jim Gaunt over his salary. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p39
] [Robson states Gaunt was chairman at the time, however he was vice-chairman until 1963.] The on-going dispute over both minimum and maximum wages in the game, instigated by Robson's team-mate Jimmy Hill and the Professional Footballers' Association, combined with the birth of Robson's second son, prompted Robson to demand a higher salary. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp39–40
] Gaunt refused to negotiate Robson's contract, so Robson placed a transfer request and was sold to Fulham for £20,000 in a deal which doubled his salary. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p40
] Soon after Robson joined Fulham, the club sold Alan Mullery and Rodney Marsh, meaning Robson's chances of securing any significant honour there were substantially reduced.cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p43
] Robson himself stated "In all my time as a footballer, I didn't win a thing."

Despite press reports of interest from Arsenal, [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p44
] and the offer of a player-manager role by Southend, [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p61
] Robson left Fulham in 1967 and accepted a three-year deal with Canada's Vancouver Royals. He was to be player-manager in their inaugural 1967–68 season in the North American Soccer League and believed it "...was a chance too good to miss". [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p62
] The position proved difficult; a long-distance joint-ownership agreement gave the Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskás control over the San Francisco section of the squad, while Robson took care of the Vancouver squad. Robson was dissatisfied by this situation and when, in January 1968, Fulham offered him a contract as their manager, he accepted the position at Craven Cottage. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp64–65
]

International playing career

During his first spell at Fulham, Robson participated in two ambassadorial Football Association tours in the West Indies in 1955 and South Africa in 1956. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p24
] However, it was during his time at West Bromwich Albion that he graduated to the full England squad, with his first call-up in 1956. His manager, Vic Buckingham, advocated the "push and run" approach to the game, a precursor to "total football", [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p31
chapter = La-di-dah
] and playing this, Robson graduated to the full England squad in 1956, [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p33
] It was also at West Bromwich Albion that Robson met future England international and assistant coach Don Howe.cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp33–35
]

He went on to make 20 appearances for the England national team, making his debut in a November 1957 victory against France, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory. [Cite web
url = http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersDetail/0,,10278~560999,00.html
title = Managers - Sir Bobby Robson
publisher = Newcastle United F.C.
accessdate = 2007-05-16
] Although he made a successful debut, he was dropped for England's next game against Scotland, in favour of Bobby Charlton. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp48–49
] He was, however, selected for the 1958 World Cup squad, ahead of Nat Lofthouse and Stanley Matthews but returned from Sweden disappointed, as England were defeated by the Soviet Union in a group play-off match. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p53
]

Following the 1958 World Cup, Robson became an established member of the England squad, enjoying considerable success in a period between October 1960 and March 1961 when he played in six England victories, including a record 9–3 defeat of Scotland at Wembley Stadium. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p54
] He was selected for the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile but an injury to his ankle sustained in a pre-tournament friendly against a Chilean club side ruled him out of most of the tournament. As Robson recalled, "I never played for England again...my international career was unfulfilled". [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp58–60
]

Managerial career

Early club management

In 1959, the then England manager and FA Director of Coaching Walter Winterbottom suggested to Robson that he take a coaching course at Lilleshall. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp33–35
] Robson made his debut as a manager in January 1968 at his former club Fulham, against Macclesfield Town, then in the Cheshire League, in the third round of the FA cup. Fulham were struggling with 16 points from 24 games. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p299
] [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1055&seasonid=97
title = Final 1967/1968 English Division 1 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2007-08-27
] Despite the acquisition of the young Malcolm Macdonald, Robson could not save the club from relegation to the Second Division, [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p66
] and he left them in November, [Cite web
url = http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/ClubHistory/Managers/BobbyRobson.aspx
title = Bobby Robson
accessdate = 2007-05-16
publisher = Fulham F.C.
] with the club sitting eighth in the Second Division. He discovered that he had been sacked, not from the club itself, but from the headline "Robson sacked" on an "Evening Standard" placard outside Putney station. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = pp67–68
]

He moved on to Ipswich Town in 1969 and it was there that he established his reputation as a successful manager. He won the vacant job at the Suffolk club after a chance encounter with Town director Murray Sangster while scouting at Portman Road for Chelsea manager Dave Sexton. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p72
chapter = The Last Corinthians
] After four mediocre seasons, Robson led Ipswich to fourth place in the First Division and success in the Texaco Cup in the 1972–73 season.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=9
title = Bobby Robson
accessdate = 2007-05-16
publisher = Pride of Anglia.com
] In the following nine seasons, Ipswich finished lower than sixth place in the First Division only once, in the 1977–78 season, however that season was a success with a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup Final. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321993.stm
title = 1978 - Osbourne's year
date = 2001-05-10
accessdate = 2007-05-16
publisher = BBC Sport
] His reign at Ipswich lasted 13 years, during which time the club twice finished as League runners-up, and made regular appearances in European competitions, capturing the UEFA Cup in 1981 with a 5–4 aggregate victory over Dutch side AZ 67 Alkmaar. [Cite web
url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/history/season=1980/intro.html
date = 2006-01-02
accessdate = 2007-08-17
title = Ipswich thankful for Thijssen
publisher = UEFA
] During his thirteen year tenure, he brought in only 14 players from other clubs, relying instead on players developed through Ipswich's youth programmes.Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml
title = Sir Bobby : Ten Facts
publisher = BBC Tyne
accessdate = 2007-05-15
]

In 2002, in recognition of his achievements with the club, a life-size statue of Robson was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand of Ipswich Town's ground Portman Road. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2130373.stm
title = Sir Bobby Robson statue unveiled
date = 2002-07-16
accessdate = 2007-05-14
publisher = BBC Sport
] On 7 July 2006, Robson was named as honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold who had died in 1987.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/5156006.stm
title = Ipswich president role for Robson
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-07-06
accessdate =2007-05-13
]

England

Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him an offer of the national coach from the Football Association and he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p102
chapter = A town awakes
] On 7 July 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the 1982 World Cup, he succeeded Ron Greenwood as coach of the English national football team, selecting former West Bromwich Albion team-mate Don Howe as his chief coach. [Cite web
url = http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Superstars/0,,10366~668765,00.html
title = Don Howe
publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date = 2007-05-16
accessdate = 2007-08-16
]

Robson's first game in charge saw immediate controversy, as he dropped Kevin Keegan for the match against Denmark; this led to Robson being spat on by Newcastle United supporters. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p108
chapter = Slings and arrows
] On 21 September 1983, Robson suffered his only loss in the 28 qualifying matches he was to undertake as England manager. [cite web
url = http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamMgr/Mgr_Robson.html
title = Matches in Which Bobby Robson Was In Charge of England
accessdate = 2007-08-16
publisher= EnglandFootballOnline.com
] The defeat, once again to Denmark, ultimately led to England's failure to qualify for the 1984 European Championships,cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
title=England's Euro record
work=The Football Association
accessdate=2007-06-15
] and resulted in Robson offering to resign in favour of Brian Clough. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p110
] The resignation was rejected by the FA chairman, Bert Millichip, and Robson went on to lead the England team to qualify for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. [Cite web
url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
title = The time is now
date = 2006-05-24
accessdate = 2007-08-13
publisher = ESPN
]

England began the competition poorly and captain Bryan Robson was injured with a recurrence of a dislocated shoulder. [cite web
url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
title=WORLD CUP 1986
work=web.ukonline.co.uk
accessdate=2007-06-17
] Bobby Robson changed the team's tactics for the final match of the first round, selecting Peter Beardsley ahead of Mark Hateley as a striking partner for Gary Lineker. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p121
] The team won its next two matches, against Poland and Paraguay, 3–0 and qualified for the quarter-finals.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851052.stm
title = World Cup history - Mexico 1986
date = 2006-05-04
accessdate = 2007-05-23
publisher = BBC Sport
] England were defeated in the last eight by Argentina with a brace of goals from Diego Maradona; the infamous "Hand of God" goal, and the "Goal of the Century" he scored five minutes later. Robson remains unimpressed by Maradona's claim of divine intervention: [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p116
chapter = A left hook
]

Robson's England dropped only one point in qualifying for Euro 1988 which included an 8–0 defeat of Turkey. However this was followed by failure at the tournament itself, held in West Germany, where England were knocked out in the group stage. They finished bottom of their qualifying group, succumbing to defeats against Ireland, Holland and the USSR. [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
title=1988 European Championship
publisher=The Football Association
accessdate=2007-06-15
] 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". [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/983995.stm
title = English football's elder statesman
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2000-08-21
accessdate = 2007-08-31
] Once again Robson submitted his resignation, and once again it was rejected by Millichip. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p112
]

Robson led England without conceding a goal through the six-match qualification for the 1990 World Cup where they were one of six seeded teams.cite web
url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1990Finals.html
title=England in World Cup 1990 Final Tournament
work=englandfootballonline.com
accessdate=2007-06-16
] Once again they were placed in a group with Holland and Ireland, with Egypt the fourth side. [cite web
url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/wc90index.html
title=World Cup 1990 - Match schedule
work=planetworldcup.com
accessdate=2007-06-16
] As in the 1986 World Cup, Robson was denied the service of his captain, Bryan Robson, who suffered an achilles tendon injury which prevented him playing in the latter stages of the tournament. [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
title= Robbo ready for new challenge
accessdate=2007-08-16
date=2003-10-30
] England topped their qualifying group, accumulating four points from their three games. However their progress was not without controversy. England changed formation from their traditional 4-4-2 to incorporate a sweeper, with some sources suggesting this was due to player revolt after the 1–1 draw in the first match with the Republic of Ireland. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3808127.stm
title = Sven's toughest test?
accessdate = 2007-08-23
date = 2004-06-16
author = Tom Fordyce
publisher = BBC Sport
] Robson denies this claim: [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
chapter = Zeroes to heroes
pages = p132
] cquote|...I made the switch, not them. I had no intention of allowing van Basten and Gullit to rip holes in us... This was followed by victories over Belgium and Cameroon in the knock-out stages, to set up a semi-final with West Germany.cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1923000/1923882.stm
title=Statistics: Italy 1990
publisher = BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-08-16
date = 2002-04-12
] England lost the match on a penalty shoot-out, after the score had been tied at 1–1 following extra time.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851148.stm
title = World Cup history - Italy 1990
date = 2006-04-27
accessdate = 2007-05-23
publisher = BBC Sport
] Robson has since said that "not a day goes by when [he] does not think about the semi-final and other choices [he] might have made".

European management

Before the 1990 World Cup, the FA told Robson that they would not renew his contract as England manager, so he moved on to the Netherlands to coach PSV Eindhoven, who sought a manager capable of instilling discipline into a fractious squad. [cite book |last=Kuper |first=Simon |title=Football against the enemy |publisher=Orion |location=London |year=1996 |id=ISBN 0-75284-877-1|pages =p93] Robson described the move as "a culture shock" but felt "...a sense of adventure." [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
chapter = On the road
pages = p146–47
] The Dutch penchant for tactical debate surprised Robson. In an interview with "Voetbal International" he lamented: "An English pro accepts the manager's decision. After every match here, the substitutes come and visit me." [Kuper, p96] Another of his challenges at PSV was handling the Brazilian international Romário. Robson became frustrated with the Brazilian's work ethic, although admitted "...in some matches he would be scintillating." [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p148
] Robson arranged showdown talks with Romário, with Frank Arnesen, Robson's assistant, acting as a translator. The talks proved unsuccessful, with Romário unwilling to change his lifestyle. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p148–150
] Despite this, PSV won the Dutch league in both the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons. However, the team did not make the progress expected by the board in European competitions and Robson was informed that he would be leaving the club at the end of the 1991–92 season. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p150–53
]

Robson moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal in July 1992, where his Portuguese interpreter was a young José Mourinho, future F.C. Porto and Chelsea manager. Robson guided the club to a third place finish in his first season in charge while admitting the club was in "...a terrible state". He described the club's president as a "loose cannon", who frequently signed players without Robson's consent. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p153–54
] Robson was sacked in December 1994 with the club sitting at top of the league table for the first time in fifteen years. The club President, Jose Sousa Cintra, cited the club's early exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Casino Salzburg as the reason for his dismissal. [Cite web
url = http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersDetail/0,,10278~560999,00.html
title = Sir Bobby Robson
publisher = Newcastle United F.C.
accessdate = 2007-08-16
]

Sporting Lisbon's rivals, F.C. Porto, quickly hired Robson, with Mourinho appointed as his assistant manager. Porto were in a poor state when Robson arrived and the average attendance had dwindled to 10,000. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p158
] The club promptly went on to beat Robson's former club, Sporting Lisbon, in the Portuguese Cup final, following that achievement with successive League titles in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons. [cite web
url=http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=103
title=SPORTING LISBON - PORTO
work=footballderbies.com |accessdate=2007-06-19
]

Such was the impact of Robson at Porto, he became known to the locals as "Bobby Five-O" in honour of the number of matches Porto won 5–0, and he signed a new contract with the club in 1995. cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p160–61
] Suffering from malignant melanoma and missing the first few months of the 1995–96 season, Robson still successfully led Porto in defence of their league title.

A phone call during the summer of 1996 from FC Barcelona's vice-president Joan Gaspart to discuss Luís Figo resulted in an offer of employment with the Spanish club. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p168
] Robson took over in July 1996, where once again his assistant was Mourinho; Robson had made Mourinho's move with him to the Camp Nou a condition of his employment.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4475887.stm
title=Tactical masters fight for glory
publisher=BBC Sport
date=2005-04-26
accessdate=2007-06-15
] One of the key decisions Robson made during his brief tenure at Barcelona was the $19.5 million signing of Ronaldo, [Cite web
url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2002/08/31/ronaldo_facts_reuters/
title = Fast facts on Ronaldo
accessdate = 2007-08-31
publisher = Sports Illustrated
] who was influential in a season when Barcelona won the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup. [Cite web
url = http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/entrenadors/Robson.html
title = Managers - Bobby Robson (1996-97)
accessdate = 2007-08-16
publisher = FC Barcelona
] Robson himself was voted European Manager of the Year for 1996–97, while Ronaldo stated, "as a trainer without doubt [Robson] is one of the greatest in the world". [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2777333.stm
title = Ronaldo praises Robson
date = 2003-02-25
accessdate = 2007-05-14
publisher = BBC Sport
]

The 1997–98 season saw Robson moved "upstairs" to the position of General Manager by Barcelona, with Louis van Gaal taking over the managerial reins, but he stayed in this position for only one season before returning to manage PSV Eindhoven on a short-term deal for the 1998–99 season. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/75031.stm
title = Bobby Robson returns to PSV
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 1998-04-06
accessdate = 2007-08-16
] PSV missed out on the league title, finishing third behind Feyenoord and Willem II, [Cite web
url = http://www.eredivisie.nl/subpage.aspx?l1=1667&l2=1668
language = Dutch
accessdate = 2007-08-17
title = Historie eredivisie competitie 1998-1999
] but Robson still led the club to qualification for the Champions League on the last day of the season. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p185
]

Return to England - Newcastle United

After Robson's contract expired, he returned to England to take up a position in the Football Association's technical department, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/news/432906.stm
title = Robson: Dream to manage Newcastle
publisher = BBC Sport
accessdate = 2007-08-17
date = 1999-08-30
] but following the resignation of Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, Robson moved to St James' Park in September 1999. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/436390.stm
title = Robson takes Newcastle hotseat
date = 1999-09-03
accessdate = 2007-05-15
publisher = BBC Sport
] Robson was disappointed with the club's opening salary offer, stating "...it was miles below the going rate", but negotiated a one year £1 million deal.cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
chapter = Going home
pages = p190
]

In his first home match in charge, Newcastle (at the bottom of the league) faced second bottom Sheffield Wednesday, thrashing them 8–0. In his first season in charge, 1999–2000, Robson led the club to an 11th place finish, with 14 wins from his 32 games in charge. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng00.html|title=England 1999/2000|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-26] In late 2000, following the resignation of Kevin Keegan as England manager, the Football Association asked Newcastle Chairman Freddy Shepherd to permit Robson to take over in a part-time caretaker capacity but the request was refused. [Cite web
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20001015/ai_n14519243
title = Football: FA Warned: Hands off our Bobby
publisher = findarticles.com, originally Sunday Mirror
date = 2000-10-15
accessdate = 2007-05-15
author = Brian McNally
] Robson guided Newcastle from bottom of the Premier League to a fourth-place finish in the 2001–02 season. [cite web
url=http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/lghist/fa/fa2002.htm
title=FA Premier League 2001-2002
work=fchd.btinternet.co.uk
accessdate=2007-08-26
] The following season, Newcastle finished third, ensuring qualification for a Champions League 2 consecutive year. [cite web
url=http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/lghist/fa/fa2003.htm
title=FA Premier League - 2002-03
work=fchd.btinternet.co.uk
accessdate=2007-08-26
] Despite the qualification of third place however, Robson was unable to guide United through the Champion's League qualifying rounds and the club was pushed back into the UEFA Cup for the 2003/2004 season. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/aug/29/newsstory.sport4 |title=Newcastle pay price of failure Football The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |author=Michael Walker |date= |accessdate=2008-09-13]

At the end of the 2003/2004 season, Newcastle United finished 5th in the table 5 points short of the Champion's League qualifying 4th place [cite web|url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Tables/0,,10278~20040622,00.html |title=2003/2004 Newcastle United nufc.co.uk Matches Tables |publisher=Nufc.premiumtv.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2008-09-13] .

He held the Newcastle post until 30 August 2004, the 2004/2005 season, when he was dismissed by Freddy Shepherd, after a poor start to the Premier League season and alleged discontent in the dressing room. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3610042.stm
title = Newcastle force Robson out
date = 2004-08-30
accessdate = 2007-05-14
publisher = BBC Sport
] Robson's dismissal followed publication of his off the record observation of his disappointment that only 5,000 fans stayed to see the traditional lap of honour made by the players at St James' Park at the end of the previous season. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p257
] However, he is still held in the highest esteem by the fans; [cite web
url=http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=1006
title=PREMIERSHIP: Sir Bobby Robson, Newcastle United, 1999-2004
work=squarefootball.net
accessdate=2007-05-27
] he was granted the Freedom of the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 2 March 2005.cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4309779.stm
title=Sir Bobby receives city freedom
publisher=BBC News
date=2005-03-02
accessdate=2007-06-10
]

His autobiography, entitled "Bobby Robson: Farewell but not Goodbye" was released in 2005. [cite web
url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Farewell-But-Goodbye-Bobby-Robson/dp/0340823461/ref=sr_1_3/026-0673002-7350846?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181479844&sr=8-3|t
title=Farewell But Not Goodbye (Hardcover)
publisher=Amazon.co.uk
accessdate=2007-06-10
] The title is based on one of his quotes upon leaving the England job in 1990: "I'm here to say goodbye—maybe not goodbye but farewell". [Cite web
url = http://www.nufc.com/html/bobby-quotes.html
title = Newcastle United Football Club - Bobby Quotes (#16)
publisher = nufc.com
accessdate =2007-05-27
] In the book, Robson was critical of Shepherd, claiming that while manager he was denied information regarding the players' contracts and transfer negotiations. He also criticised Shepherd and the club's deputy chairman Douglas Hall, for their focus on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous issues, such as the training ground, youth development and talent scouts. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
chapter = Going home
pages = p195–197
] The club's training ground was later blamed by Graeme Souness, Robson's successor, for a series of injuries to first team players. [Cite web
url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/10/20/sfnowe20.xml
title = Owen injury blamed on training pitch
publisher = Daily Telegraph
date = 2005-10-20
accessdate = 2007-05-13
]

Football consultant

On 7 June 2005 he declined the invitation to become manager of Hearts because he wanted to stay in Newcastle. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4612251.stm
title = Robson rejects approach by Hearts
date = 2005-06-07
accessdate = 2007-05-15
publisher = BBC Sport
] On 13 January 2006, Steve Staunton was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, with Robson named in a support role as International Football Consultant.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4610306.stm
title = Republic appoint Staunton as boss
date = 2006-01-13
accessdate = 2007-05-14
publisher = BBC Sport
] Robson stepped down from his role of consultant on 17 November 2007, after the Republic's final match in their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for Euro 2008. [Cite web
url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7080691,00.html
title = Robson ready to retire from pitch at 74
date = 2007-11-15
accessdate = 2007-11-22
publisher = GuardianUnlimited
] Robson is the current Vice President of the League Managers Association, a non-executive role. [Cite web
url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/lma/structure-3.html
title = LMA Structure
accessdate = 2007-11-02
publisher = League Managers Association
]

Life outside football

Personal life

Robson married Elsie in 1955, and they have three children, Andrew, Paul and Mark.cite web
url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=452940&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=
title=Sir Bobby: My fight against cancer
publisher=Daily Mail|date=2007-05-05
accessdate=2007-05-15
] [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2499521.stm
title=Sir Bobby Robson receives knighthood
publisher=BBC News
date=2002-11-21
accessdate=2007-05-15
] Since 1991, Robson has repeatedly been diagnosed as suffering from cancer. He has had several operations and, in 2006, was operated on for on a brain tumour. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p151–53
] This has, on occasion, impacted on his work; while at Porto for example, Robson suffered from malignant melanoma, which resulted in him missing the first few months of the 1995–96 season. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p162–68
] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5249042.stm|title=Robson discharged from hospital|publisher=BBC|date=2006-08-07|accessdate=2007-05-13] Following the brain surgery, Sky Sports News reported that Robson had had an adverse reaction that had caused slight swelling of the brain, which had in turn caused the loss of feeling in his left side.

On 17 October 2006, it was revealed that Robson had been given the all-clear and was set to see out his contract as consultant to the Irish team. [cite web
url=http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=198626746&p=y986z745z&t=soccer
title=Robson gets the all-clear
publisher=Ireland On-Line
date=2006-10-17
accessdate=2007-05-13
] Robson revealed on 6 May 2007 that he had been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.Cite web
url = http://www.sportinglife.com/football/international/england/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/05/06/SOCCER_Robson.html&TEAMHD=england
title = ROBSON FIGHTING CANCER AGAIN
publisher = Sporting Life
accessdate = 2007-05-14
author = James Watson
] On Saturday 17 May 2008, Sir Bobby was the guest of honour at the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium when Portsmouth beat Cardiff City 1-0. He presented the trophy to the victorious captain, Sol Campbell.

Other activities

Robson has made a number of product endorsements, including an appearance in Carlsberg's "Best Pub Side" television commercial. [Cite web
url = http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/04/Carlsberg_advertisement.htm
title = Carlsberg's "Best Pub Side" TV commercial
publisher = TheFA.com
date = 2006-04-19
accessdate = 2007-05-15
] He also acted as a pundit for ITV during the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 European Championship. [Cite web
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20020623/ai_n12841876
title = Football World Cup 2002: Gibbering Gazza's right on target with long
publisher = Sunday Mirror
date = 2002-06-23
accessdate = 2007-08-30
] [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3804791.stm
title=Reasons to be cheerful
author=Tom Fordyce
work=BBC Sport
date=2004-06-14
accessdate=2007-08-29
] In 2004, following the death of Brian Clough, Robson briefly stood-in for Clough as a columnist at "FourFourTwo" magazine, [Cite web| title = Four Four Two Magazine - Magsite.co.uk Magazine Subscription Offers Forum| accessdate = 2008-09-13| url = http://www.magsite.co.uk/forum/new-magazine-offers/731-four-four-two-magazine.html] and since 2004 he has written a weekly column for "The Mail on Sunday". [cite web
url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/columnists/sportcolumnists.html?in_page_id=1951
title=Sir Bobby Robson - The Mail on Sunday
work=Daily Mail
accessdate=2007-06-12
]

In 2008 Robson launched a charitable foundation to help in the fight against cancer and confirmed later his cancer was terminal. [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7312151.stm
title=Sir Bobby launches cancer charity
work=BBC News
accessdate=2008-03-25
]

Honours

Bobby Robson has been awarded a number of honours for his contributions to football. In 1990, at the end of his eight-year reign as England manager, he was awarded a CBE and in 2002, he was knighted; both awards were for services to football.cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p297
] Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2499521.stm
publisher = BBC News
date = 2002-11-21
accessdate = 2007-08-16
title = Sir Bobby Robson receives knighthood
]

In 2002 (during his time as Newcastle manager), the 69-year-old Robson was awarded the freedom of Newcastle upon Tyne and the UEFA President's Award for 'services to football'. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003 in recognition of his impact as a manager. [Cite web
url = http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/bobbyrobson.htm
title = English Football Hall of Fame Profile
publisher = National Football Museum
accessdate = 2007-05-13
] Following his time as Newcastle United manager in 2005, Robson was made an Honorary Freeman of Newcastle, which, in his autobiography, he described as being "the proudest moment of my life". [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p294
chapter = Hello and goodbye
]

Robson has also won the 1992 Football Writers' Association Tribute Award for an outstanding contribution to the national game, [Cite web
url = http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsFWATribute.html
title = England Honours - Football Writers' Association Tribute Award
accessdate = 2007-08-16
publisher = Englandfootballonline.com
] and the 2001 British Sports Writers' Association Pat Besford Trophy for Outstanding Achievement. In 2005 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Sports Coach UK Awards, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/4508254.stm
title = Fletcher honoured with top award
accessdate = 2007-08-31
date = 2005-12-07
publisher = BBC Sport
] and was also awarded the Eircom International Personality of the Year in 2006. On 9 December 2007, Robson (74) was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year show in recognition of "his contribution as both player and manager in a career spanning more than half a century". [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7134846.stm
title = Robson wins BBC achievement award
accessdate = 2007-12-08
date = 8 December 2007
publisher = BBC Sport
]

On 5 May 2008, during the 30th anniversary celebrations of Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup win, Robson was granted the Freedom of Ipswich by the Lady Mayor. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7384954.stm
title=Sir Bobby given freedom of town
date=2008-05-06
accessdate=2008-06-21
publisher=BBC News
]

Managerial statistics

Performance by club

Honours

Further reading

*"Time On The Grass", Bobby Robson, (Arthur Barker 1982), ISBN 0213168456.
*"Bobby Robson: An Autobiography", Bobby Robson, (Hutchinson 1990), ISBN 0091744997.
*"Football Against the Enemy", (Chapter 11), Simon Kuper, (Orion 1996), ISBN 0753805235.
*"High Noon: A Year at Barcelona", Jeff King, (Virgin Books 1997), ISBN 1852276339.
*"Bobby Robson: An Englishman Abroad", Bobby Robson with Bob Harris, (Macmillan 1998), ISBN 0330369857.
*"Sir Bobby Robson: Living the Game", Bob Harris, (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2004), ISBN 1841882445.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=10242|name=Bobby Robson
*soccerbase (manager)|id=239|name=Bobby Robson
* [http://www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]

Navboxes
list1=

Persondata
NAME= Robson, Sir Robert William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Robson, Sir Bobby
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= 1933-2-18
PLACE OF BIRTH= Sacriston, County Durham , England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=


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