Sir Robert William Robson, known as Sir Bobby Robson (born February 18 1933) is a football manager and former football player. His most recent appointment was as manager of Newcastle United and he previously managed the English national football team.
Currently Robson is regarded as the grandfather of English managers - but a sprightly one. He has a coaching CV as impressive as any in world football.
Robson was born in Sacriston, County Durham and signed for Fulham F.C. in May 1950, playing as a winger. He moved to West Bromwich Albion F.C. in March 1956 where he was to play 257 games, scoring 61 goals and winning 20 England caps as a midfielder. In August 1962, he moved back to Fulham before a short spell as player/ coach at Vancouver Royals in Canada from 1967 to 1968, their inaugural season in the North American Soccer League.
He began managerial life proper in the dug-out at Fulham before entering a blissful union with Ipswich Town F.C. in 1969. After 13 years, including 2 seasons as league championship runners-up, an FA Cup, and a UEFA Cup later, he answered the call of his country by succeeding Ron Greenwood as national coach.
A mixed eight-year reign included glorious failure at both the Football World Cup 1986 (where England lost in the quarter finals to Argentina in the infamous 'hand of God' game) and the 1990 World Cup finals (when England reached the semi-finals and lost to West Germany on penalties). 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. Since then he has coached PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands (twice), Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto of Portugal and Spain's FC Barcelona to great success and was voted European Manager of the Year. But it was only in September 1999 the affable Geordie with the charming penchant for forgetting his players' names landed his dream job--that of reviving the club he worshipped as a child. Unfortunately Robson was at odds with the millionaire lifestyles of his players at Newcastle and the politics of the English Premiership. He held the Newcastle post until August 30, 2004, when he was dismissed following a poor start to the Premier League season and alleged discontent in the dressing room.
Robson, who has had successful surgery to beat cancer, was knighted in 2002 for services to football.
