Morning:
13°c
Sir Bobby Robson, one of the giants of English football, died today aged 76.
The former Fulham, Ipswich, Newcastle, Barcelona and England manager lost his 17-year fight against cancer in the early hours with his wife Elsie and his children at his side.
Tributes were immediately paid to the hugely popular figure, one of only two coaches to have steered England to the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Gordon Brown said: “He epitomised everything that is great about football in this country. His passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism knew no equal during his time both as a player and a manager.”
Tony Blair, a Newcastle supporter, said: “Sir Bobby was one of the nicest, most caring and genuine people I ever met — a real Geordie gentleman.” David Cameron described Robson as “the most modest and self-effacing of men”.
In a statement 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 at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.”
Robson, knighted in 2002, had been fighting lung cancer in a struggle he admitted he would lose “sooner rather than later”. It was his fifth bout of cancer dating back to 1992.
Robson's death comes just days after his final public appearance on Sunday when a crowd of 33,000 turned out at Newcastle United's ground St James' Park for an all-stars England v Germany game in support of his cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
Alan Shearer, one of many generations of players to be inspired by Robson's legendary enthusiasm, said: “Sunday was a fitting tribute to him and he will be sadly missed by everyone, not just by people in the football world but from all walks of life.”
Robson continued to support Gascoigne through his struggles with alcohol addiction. After Sunday's charity game Gascoigne paid tribute to his mentor, saying: “Sir Bobby is a legend over the world.”
Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Sir Bobby once described those working to find a cure for cancer as heroes'. Today we have lost another hero, both on and off the pitch, and one who will be much missed by many.”
Robson's career as a player and manager spanned more than half a century. He was born into a coal mining family in Sacriston, County Durham, in February 1933. His childhood heroes were Newcastle legends Jackie Milburn and Len Shackleton but his first playing contract was with Fulham in 1950.
Life in pictures: Sir Bobby Robson
He also played for West Bromwich Albion and the Vancouver Royals. He made 20 appearances for England, scoring four goals.
But it is as a manager that he will be best remembered, one of a select band to have succeeded at the top of the English and Continental club scenes and on the international stage.
He made his debut as a manager for Fulham in 1968 before being sacked and making the move to Ipswich Town that set him on the path to greatness.
In 13 seasons at the unfashionable Suffolk club, where he was made life president in 2006, he secured promotion to the First Division and moulded a small squad into one of the most exciting teams of the Seventies.
Ipswich finished second in the top flight twice and were rarely out of the top six. They captured the FA Cup in 1978 and the Uefa Cup in 1981, bringing previously undreamed-of glory to Portman Road. Robson was also responsible for starting the influx of European players into the English game, signing Dutch stars Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen.
His extraordinary achievements at Ipswich led to Robson being appointed England coach in 1982.
After a stuttering start to one of sport's most high-pressure jobs, Robson's England performed well at the 1986 World Cup only to be knocked out by Diego Maradona's notorious “Hand of God” goal. But the high point of Robson's England career came in 1990 when the team battled to a semi-final against West Germany only to suffer the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat. He moved to European club management with Dutch team PSV Eindhoven and in 1992 with Sporting Lisbon, where his Portuguese interpreter was a young José Mourinho. In 1995 he moved to rival Portuguese club Porto, winning league titles in 1994/95 and 1995/96.
Arguably the peak of his club managerial career came with a move to Barcelona in 1996, again with Mourinho at his side. He returned to England with a move to his beloved Newcastle in 1999, guiding the Magpies to fourth, third and fifth place finishes.
He was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the season, bringing the curtain down on his 36-year managerial career. He acted as consultant to the Irish national team until 2007.
Robson married Elsie in June 1955 and they have three children, Andrew, Paul and Mark.
Reader views (19)
A fine man with a passion for the game and a good understanding of people, he will be sadly missed. Incidentally he was really an adopted Geordie having been county durham born and bred! He represents good old fashioned values which are sadly missing from football these days....
- Jules, uk
I hate football, but this man seemed to have lived a good life which we can all aspire to.
- Never Eat Tuna Again, London
sir bobby proved that you can be a winner and be a gentleman.
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO FOOTBALL & ENGLAND.
HOPE HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD SOON RECOVER FROM THE SADNESS.
RESPECT FROM A FANS IN HONG KONG.
RIP SIR BOBBY ROBSON !
- Peter Lai, HONG KONG
English football has lost a true giant who spanned the game for 50 years.
If you truely judge a man on the endeavor and commitment in his chosen field then surely sir we have lost a great individual.
- Simon, HANWORTH
Best England manager and he was British, not some foreigner managing our national team.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
Although Sir Bobby will be best remembered as a manager he was also a great player. He joined my club West Brom from Fulham in the mid fifties where he had played with the great Johnny Haynes , The Albion had a great team at the time and it wasn't long before he established himself in the Albion and England teams moving back from an inside forward to wing half. Footballers weren't paid a fortune then and I remember that he used to supplement his wages by working part time for one of the Albion directors who had an engineering company. Either he did'nt drive or did not have a car but used the bus to travel around making his sales calls. Sir Bobby cost the Albion £25,000 from Fulham which was a big fee at the time and the maximum wage was still in force. £25.00 a week I think. I think everyone in Football will miss him he was a great sportsman and gentleman. God Bless you Sir Bobby.
- Robin Brittain, Wolverhamton UK
A true & honest Gentleman who will be sadly missed by all.
- Ken, Morden
I've got two great memories of Sir Bobby.
One was when I was in a hotel bar in Barcelona, near the Nou Camp, when PSV were playing Barca. The bar was full of fans of both teams. A strongly built man in a grey suit excused himself as he brushed past me, but it was only when the whole bar rose in applause that I realised it was the great man.
The second was in a traffic jam on Putney Bridge. Sir Bobby was walking towards Craven Cottage with his wife, and as word spread along the jam that it was indeed him, the horns started blowing and everyone was calling his name and cheering.
Two small examples that demonstrate what he meant to the average fan on the street, and a measure of the love and respect we had for this dignified football man.
I'm truly sad today. RIP.
- Fresh, London
"A great man, a great Geordie and a great football man".
Couldn't agree more. He was a prototypical Englishman and a great inspiration, yet modest too. Really sorry to read this news, being Geordie myself.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
Best England manager of modern times and a real Englishman and a gentleman,will be sadly missed but fondly remembered,my own personal memories of Sir Bobby will always be Italia 96 with Gazza in tears in the epic semi final against the Germans. R.I.P Sir Bobby.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand
He was a gentleman to the core!! A true example of what being a manager should be. Never had a bad word to say against anyone.
What a sad day!!
- Kunle Sotunde, London
A great man, a great Geordie and a great football man. Born in Ireland, I always loved seeing anyone beat England at football/rugby etc (don't ask why, must be in the DNA)but with Bobby Robson's England football teams it was different. Forget the 96 Euro's, England's finest hours since 1966 were under the management of Bobby Robson, they had the man's character stamped all over them. A fine man indeed.
- Dc, London
Sir Bobby the legend. Football will truly miss him.
RIP
- Jonny, London
Such very sad news, RIP Sir Bobby.
My condolences to his family and friends.
- Sarah, Enfield
Couldn't have put it any better myself, Esmat.
R.I.P. Sir Bobby Robson.
- Stu, Beckton
Vale Sir Bobby, You were truly one of the Greats,
A Legend in hi own lifetime. To his family my fondest thoughts and sympathy. Thank you for sharing him with us .
- E Hughes, Brisbane Australia
There are times when the passing of a public figure leaves many people feeling a sense of personal loss and this is one such time.
Although he was only ever a face on my TV screen, Sir Bobby made me feel as though he were explaining the game to me personally - almost like your Dad.
In a time when football is derided for greed and arrogance, this man was a reminder of all that can be good about the game.
I for one will be raising a glass in his honour tonight.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England
What a legend, England and the worl has lost a great man, I am so sad that he is no longer with us.
He will never be forgotten, a gentelman and an english Icon.
- Esmat, Egypt
