Football legend Robson dies at 76

[Shanked]

Football legend Robson dies at 76
Sir Bobby Robson

Obituary - Sir Bobby Robson 1933-2009

Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76, following a long battle with cancer.

Robson will be best remembered on the international stage for leading England to the 1990 World Cup semi-final.

At club level, he cut his managerial teeth at Fulham before establishing his credentials at Ipswich where he won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup in a 13-year stay.

Spells at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona followed before he managed at Newcastle.

Robson made his final public appearance at a charity match at Newcastle's St James' Park on Sunday.

An England side, featuring Alan Shearer and several members of the 1990 World Cup squad including Paul Gascoigne and Peter Shilton, beat a Germany team 3-2 in front of almost 30,000 spectators.
Paul Gascoigne & Gary Lineker

1990 Archive - West Germany v England

The game was a repeat of the 1990 World Cup semi-final when England, managed by Sir Bobby, lost on penalties. Shearer scored the winner from the penalty spot.

A statement issued on behalf of his family said: "It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer.

"He died very peacefully this morning (Friday) at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.

"Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only.

"A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby's life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues.

"Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time."

As a player, Robson, who played on the wing, was a key member of the Fulham and West Brom team during the 1950s and 1960s and also won 20 caps for England.

606: DEBATE
Gone but never forgotten, let's remember him for what he was, a true football legend and a gentleman

GeordiO_1981

But it was in management that he established himself as one of the greats of the game.

After a brief spell as a player-coach with Vancouver Royals in the North American Soccer League, he took over as boss of Fulham in January 1968 but was sacked by Christmas.

He took over as Ipswich manager in 1969 and guided the unfashionable East Anglian club to FA Cup and Uefa Cup victories in 1978 and 1981 respectively. He also twice led the Portman Road outfit to the runners-up spot in the old First Division.

Robson's success led to him succeeding Ron Greenwood as England manager after the 1982 World Cup.

Failure to qualify for the 1984 European Championships was followed by a run to the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where England lost 2-1 to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and a superb individual strike by the Argentine legend.

The 1988 European Championships were also a write off with England failing to win any of their group games, but at Italia '90, Robson came within a whisker of guiding the national team to its first World Cup final since winning the tournament in 1966.

More to follow.

RIP Sir Bobby

 

[afghan4life]

rip
Sir bobby robson

 

[the_crusader]

R.I.P Sir Bobby Charlton

 

[Özil]

rip sir bobby... probably one of the greatest managers going around but shame about his stint at newcastle though

 

[will.i.am]

RIP Sir Bobby

 

[wyongguy]

was one of the good guys, never heard him get petty like so many managers can do these days.

 

[GATE7]

RIPS. Good coach, good person.

 

[Shanked]

English football's leading figures pay tribute to Sir Bobby Robson

From correspondents in London
July 31, 2009

English football's leading figures have paid tribute to Sir Bobby Robson after the former England coach lost his long battle with cancer.

Robson passed away aged 76 at his family home and his death brought an immediate out-pouring of love and respect from the football community.

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, who played under Robson at the 1986 World Cup, told Sky Sports News: "It's devastating. Our feelings and thoughts go out to Bobby's family. Obviously for everybody in the football world it's a very, very sad day.

"He's the closest we've come to winning the World Cup since 1966 - that's how good Bobby was.

"In the 1990 World Cup with a little bit more luck and calmness in the penalty shoot-out, who knows what could have happened? He was right up there behind (1966 World Cup winning manager) Sir Alf Ramsey in that sense.

"We had a fantastic squad certainly in '86 - who knows what could have happened if the 'hand of God' goal from Maradona didn't happen?

"You can see how respected he was all around the world. I was absolutely amazed to see, when he went back to Newcastle, the passion he had for continuing at Newcastle when he'd done most jobs he wanted to.''

Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, who played under Robson, said on Sky Sports News: "It's a sad day for football and football people.

"He had such honesty and enthusiasm for the game as a player and manager. Even right up to the very end, when he spoke about football the enthusiasm still shone through how much he loved and cared about the game.

"He certainly made the nation very proud because of the way the team played in that 1990 World Cup.''

Robson's assistant as England boss, Don Howe, said: "It is a sad day. When somebody is ill like that you realise what is happening but when it comes it is really shocking to your system.

"Having known him since the 1950s when he was transferred from Fulham to West Brom, where I was already, we just gelled together.

"He was a man of standards. Whatever he talked about or did, he had high standards to do the best he could possibly do and he lived his life that way.''

Former Newcastle assistant manager Terry McDermott hailed Robson's bravery over the duration of his long battle with cancer.

"It's devastating,'' he told Sky Sports News.

"Everybody knew it was coming. The people who've seen him at the weekend at the charity game, you could see he wasn't a well man.

"It shows the courage of the man to actually turn up in front of 33,000 people and get the fitting send-off he deserved because he's a fantastic football person.

Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias added: "Sir Bobby was one of the game's true footballing legends, a unique, passionate man who gave so much to the game.

"He will be enormously missed by the whole football community worldwide and we extend our sincere condolences to his wife Elsie and family. We may never see his like again.''

Newcastle players and staff, upon hearing the news, held a minute's silence at the training ground on Friday and Newcastle's St James' Park stadium was opened for fans to lay tributes to Robson.


Agence France-Presse

 

[Chicharito]

RIP Sir Bobby Robson

 

[Mountain Dogs]

i can still remember gettin up at four in the mornin as an 8 yr old, to watch England lose to the the west krouts. ****in stuart pearce missed his penalty, Gazza in tears, and for gazza it was only downhill from then. An absolute legend, RIP