Fulham FC (England),
West Bromwich Albion FC (England), Fulham FC (England),
Vancouver Royals (Canada)
Honours
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Biography
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.
