Sir Bobby Robson Dies aged 76.

Football legend Robson dies at 76

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.

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 in Sunday's friendly, from the penalty spot.

A statement issued on behalf of Robson's 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.

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.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2 ... 177945.stm

Published: 2009/07/31 09:34:36 GMT

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