View source for Bobby Robson

{{short description|English footballer and manager (1933–2009)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{featured article}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name           = <small>[[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]</small><br>Bobby Robson<br><small>{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|CBE}}</small>
|image          = Anefo 934-2658, Bobby Robson, Netherlands, 14-06-1988.jpg
|caption        = Robson in 1988
|fullname       = Robert William Robson
|birth_date     = {{Birth date|1933|2|18|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Sacriston]], County Durham, England
|death_date     = {{Death date and age|2009|7|31|1933|2|18|df=y}}
|death_place    = [[Beamish, County Durham|Beamish]], County Durham, England
|height         = 1.82 m<ref>{{cite web | url=https://famousheights.net/soccer-player/bobby-robson | title=Bobby Robson Height in feet/Cm. How Tall }}</ref>
|position       = [[Inside forward]]
|years1         = 1950–1956
|years2         = 1956–1962
|years3         = 1962–1967
|years4         = 1967–1968
|clubs1         = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|clubs2         = [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|clubs3         = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|clubs4         = [[Vancouver Royal Canadians]]
|caps1          = 152
|caps2          = 239
|caps3          = 192
|caps4          = 0
|goals1         = 68
|goals2         = 56
|goals3         = 9
|goals4         = 0
|totalcaps      = 583
|totalgoals     = 133
|nationalyears1 = 1957–1962
|nationalteam1  = [[England national football team|England]]
|nationalcaps1  = 20
|nationalgoals1 = 4
|manageryears1  = 1967
|manageryears2  = 1968
|manageryears3  = 1969–1982
|manageryears4  = 1982–1990
|manageryears5  = 1990–1992
|manageryears6  = 1992–1994
|manageryears7  = 1994–1996
|manageryears8  = 1996–1997
|manageryears9  = 1998–1999
|manageryears10  = 1999–2004
|managerclubs1  = [[Vancouver Royal Canadians]]
|managerclubs2  = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|managerclubs3  = [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
|managerclubs4  = [[England national football team|England]]
|managerclubs5  = [[PSV Eindhoven]]
|managerclubs6  = [[Sporting CP]]
|managerclubs7  = [[FC Porto|Porto]]
|managerclubs8  = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|managerclubs9  = [[PSV Eindhoven]]
|managerclubs10  = [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
}}
'''Sir Robert William Robson''' (18 February 1933 – 31 July 2009)<ref name="bbcdeath">{{cite news | title = Football legend Robson dies at 76 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8177945.stm | work=BBC Sport | date = 31 July 2009 | access-date =31 July 2009}}</ref> was an English [[Association football|football]] player and coach. His career included periods playing for and later managing the [[England national football team|England national team]] and being a [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]-winning manager at [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].

Robson's professional playing career as an [[inside forward]] spanned nearly 20 years, during which he played for three clubs: [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], and, briefly, [[Vancouver Royals]]. He also made 20 appearances for England, scoring four goals. After his playing career, he found success as both a club and international manager, winning league championships in both the Netherlands and Portugal, earning trophies in England and Spain, and taking England to the [[West Germany v England (1990 FIFA World Cup)|semi-finals]] of the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]], which remained the national team's best run in a World Cup since [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]] until they reached the semi-finals of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]]. His last management role was as a mentor to the manager of the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]], while his final official club job was at boyhood club [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], whom he left in 2004. He held several managerial positions outside of England, most notably one year at [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1996–97, as well as stints at [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]], [[Sporting CP]] and [[FC Porto|Porto]].

Robson was created a [[Knight Bachelor]] in 2002, was inducted as a member of the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2003, and was the honorary president of Ipswich Town. From 1991 onwards, he had recurrent medical problems with cancer, and in March 2008, put his name and efforts into the [[Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]], a cancer research charity which had raised over £12&nbsp;million as of March 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stott|first1=Matt|title=Ipswich: Sir Bobby Robson Foundation reaches £7m milestone as Mick Mills and Alan Shearer join Lady Elsie Robson in thanking fundraisers|url=http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_sir_bobby_robson_foundation_reaches_7m_milestone_as_mick_mills_and_alan_shearer_join_lady_elsie_robson_in_thanking_fundraisers_1_3480685?usurv=completed|newspaper=East Anglian Daily Times|location=Ipswich|access-date=2 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201517/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_sir_bobby_robson_foundation_reaches_7m_milestone_as_mick_mills_and_alan_shearer_join_lady_elsie_robson_in_thanking_fundraisers_1_3480685?usurv=completed|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2008, his lung cancer was confirmed to be terminal; he said, "My condition is described as static and has not altered since my last bout of [[chemotherapy]]... I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute."<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/31/bobby-robson-dies |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London | title = Sir Bobby Robson dies at the age of 76 | first = Louise | last = Taylor | access-date = 17 November 2013 |date =30 July 2009}}</ref> He died just under a year later, in July 2009.

== Early life ==
Bobby Robson was born on 18 February 1933 in [[Sacriston]], County Durham, the fourth of five sons of Philip and Lilian Robson (née Watt).<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | first = Bobby
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/6 6]
 | chapter = Going underground
 | isbn = 0-340-82346-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/6
 }}</ref> When he was a few months old, Robson's family moved to the nearby village of [[Langley Park, County Durham|Langley Park]] where his father was a coal miner. Their two-bedroom house had no bath and an [[outside toilet]].<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB |title=Robson, Sir Robert William [Bobby] (1933–2009), footballer and football manager |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-102190 |access-date=2023-01-05 |year=2013 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/102190 |language=en|last1=Vamplew |first1=Wray }}</ref> As a boy, he was often taken by his father to watch [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] play at [[St James' Park]] on Saturday afternoons, requiring a 34-mile round trip.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Dream to manage Newcastle">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/news/432906.stm
|title=Robson: Dream to manage Newcastle
|work=BBC Sport
|access-date=13 June 2007
|date=30 September 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/15 15]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/15
 }}</ref> Robson described [[Jackie Milburn]] and [[Len Shackleton]] as his childhood heroes.<ref name="Dream to manage Newcastle"/> Both played for Newcastle in the inside-forward position, the position Robson would later assume during his playing career.

Robson attended Langley Park Primary School and then [[Waterhouses, County Durham|Waterhouses]] [[secondary modern school]], after failing his [[eleven-plus]] but the headmaster did not allow the school football team to join a league.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/3695160.Three_Tuns_reunite_with_tons_of_happy_memories/ |title=Three Tuns reunite with tons of happy memories |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=23 September 2008 |access-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930231650/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/3695160.Three_Tuns_reunite_with_tons_of_happy_memories/ |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Instead, he began to play for Langley Park Juniors on Saturday mornings at age 11, and by the time he was 15, he was representing the club at under-18 level.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/8 8]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/8
 }}</ref> Robson played football whenever he possibly could but left school aged 15 to start work as an electrician's apprentice for the [[National Coal Board]] in the Langley Park [[colliery]].<ref name="ODNB"/><ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/1 1]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/1
 }}</ref> In May 1950, [[Bill Dodgin, Sr.|Bill Dodgin]], the manager of [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], made a personal visit to the Robson household to offer Bobby a professional contract. Despite being offered a contract by nearby [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], the offer made by Dodgin was too attractive to turn down, so he signed for Fulham and moved to London,<ref name=espn/><ref name=p1819>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/18 18–19]
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/18
 }}</ref><ref name=nufc>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0,,10278~2109011,00.html
 |title=Newcastle United F.C. History&nbsp;– Bobby Robson
 |access-date=4 February 2013
 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C.
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219052615/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10278~2109011%2C00.html
 |archive-date=19 February 2013}}</ref> playing as a wing half and inside forward.<ref name=tenfacts/> Robson had also interested his beloved Newcastle, but he opted to join Fulham as, in his opinion, "Newcastle made no appreciable effort to secure [my] signature." He also thought he stood a better chance of breaking into the first team at Fulham.<ref name="ODNB"/> Robson had [[Hearing loss|partial deafness]] in one ear, which rendered him ineligible to be called up for [[national service]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5946721/Sir-Bobby-Robson.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5946721/Sir-Bobby-Robson.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title= Sir Bobby Robson | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=31 July 2009 | access-date=8 September 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Playing career ==

=== Club playing career ===
Although Robson had signed professionally, his father insisted he continue to work as an electrician. He spent the day working at the [[Festival of Britain]] site and trained three nights a week at Fulham.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/20 20]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/20
 }}</ref> Eventually, this took its toll on Robson and he gave up his trade for full-time professional football.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/21 21]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/21
 }}</ref>

In 1950, Robson made his first-team debut for Fulham, recently promoted to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]], in a match against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref name="Robson">{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/24 24]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/24
 }}</ref> He came to regard Fulham as "a nice club, a social club...", but "never... a serious, championship-challenging club".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/25 25, p28]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/25
 }}</ref> Indeed, he and Fulham were relegated from the top-flight in the [[1951–52 in English football|1951–52]] season,<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1951-1952/table
| title = Fulham 1951-1952 : English Division One (old) Table
| publisher = Statto
| access-date = 17 November 2013
| url-status=live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015200213/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1951-1952/table
| archive-date = 15 October 2014
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> but he made his return to the First Division, four years later, when he signed for [[Vic Buckingham]]'s [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] in March 1956.<ref name=espn>{{Cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/manager?id=31 |title=Sir Bobby Robson |publisher=ESPN |access-date=15 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002115254/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/manager?id=31 |archive-date=2 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-bobby-robson-esteemed-football-player-and-manager-who-led-england-to-the-world-cup-semifinals-1765916.html |title=Sir Bobby Robson: Esteemed football player and manager who led England to the World Cup semi-finals | first=Ivan | last=Ponting |newspaper=The Independent |date=1 August 2009|access-date=17 November 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The transfer fee of £25,000 was a club record for West Brom at the time.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/29 29]
 | chapter = Tales From The Riverbank
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/29
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book
 | last = Matthews
 | first = Tony
 |author2=Mackenzie, Colin
  | title = Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987
 | publisher=Breedon Books
 | year = 1987
 | pages = 294
 | isbn = 0-907969-23-2
}}</ref>

He made his West Brom debut in a 4–0 home defeat to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 10 March 1956.<ref name="WBA Whos Who">{{cite book | last = Matthews | first = Tony | title = The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion | publisher=Breedon Books | year = 2005 | pages = 202–203 | isbn = 1-85983-474-4}}</ref> In [[1957–58 in English football|1957–58]], he was the club's top league goalscorer; his tally of 24 goals included four in a 5–1 win against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Matthews | first=Tony | title=West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record | publisher=Breedon Books | year=2007 | pages = 172 & 292 | isbn=978-1-85983-565-4}}</ref><ref>[[Ronnie Allen]] was the club's top scorer overall, with 28 goals.</ref> Often playing as a [[midfielder]], he went on to play 257 matches and score 61 goals for West Brom,<ref name="ODNB"/> and he captained the team for the [[1960–61 in English football|1960–61]] and [[1961–62 in English football|1961–62]] seasons.<ref>{{cite book
| last=McOwan
| first=Gavin
| title=The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion
| publisher=Headline | year=2002 |pages=252–253
| isbn=0-7553-1146-9}}</ref> However, in August 1962, he returned to Fulham after a disagreement with West Brom vice-chairman Jim Gaunt over his salary.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/39 39]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/39
 }}</ref><ref>Robson states Gaunt was chairman at the time, however he was vice-chairman until 1963.</ref> The ongoing dispute over both minimum and maximum wages in the game, instigated by Robson's teammate [[Jimmy Hill]] and the [[Professional Footballers' Association]], combined with the birth of Robson's second son, prompted Robson to demand a higher salary.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/39 39–40]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/39
 }}</ref> Gaunt refused to negotiate Robson's contract, so Robson placed a transfer request and was sold to Fulham for £20,000 in a deal which doubled his salary.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/40 40]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/40
 }}</ref> Soon after Robson joined Fulham, the club sold [[Alan Mullery]] and [[Rodney Marsh]], meaning Robson's chances of securing any significant honour there were substantially reduced.<ref name=nowin>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/43 43]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/43
 }}</ref> Robson himself stated, "In all my time as a footballer, I didn't win a thing."<ref name=nowin/>

Despite press reports of interest from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]],<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/44 44]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/44
 }}</ref> and the offer of a [[player-manager]] role by [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]],<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/61 61]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/61
 }}</ref> Robson left Fulham in 1967 and accepted a three-year deal with Canada's [[Vancouver Royals]]. He was to be player-manager in their inaugural 1968 season in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) and believed it "was a chance too good to miss".<ref name=espn/><ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/62 62]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/62
 }}</ref> He began scouting and holding tryout camps for the new team in late 1967.<ref>{{cite news
 | last = Jukich
 | first = Roy
 | title = Local Talent Surprises Boss
 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SJZlAAAAIBAJ&pg=7160%2C2830810
 |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun | date = 10 October 1967
 | access-date =28 December 2018
}}</ref> The position proved difficult; a long-distance joint-ownership agreement gave the Hungarian footballer [[Ferenc Puskás]] control over the San Francisco section of the squad,<ref>{{cite news
 | last = Jukich
 | first = Roy
 | title = Puskas Wins Soccer Derby
 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pJZlAAAAIBAJ&pg=969,81414 |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun | date = 16 January 1968
 | access-date =12 February 2011
}}</ref> while Robson took care of the Vancouver squad. Robson was dissatisfied by this situation and when, in January 1968, Fulham offered him a contract as their manager, he accepted the position at [[Craven Cottage]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/64 64–65]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/64
 }}</ref>

=== International playing career ===
During his first spell at Fulham, Robson participated in two ambassadorial Football Association tours in the [[Caribbean|West Indies]] in 1955 and South Africa in 1956.<ref name="Robson" /> However, it was during his time at West Bromwich Albion that he graduated to the full [[England national football team|England]] squad, with his first call-up in 1956. His manager, Vic Buckingham, advocated the "[[push and run]]" approach to the game, a precursor to "[[total football]]",<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/31 31]
 | chapter = La-di-dah
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/31
 }}</ref> and playing this, Robson graduated to the full England squad in 1956,<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/33 33]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/33
 }}</ref> It was also at West Brom when Robson met future England international and assistant coach [[Don Howe]].<ref name=p33to35>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/33 33–35]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/33
 }}</ref>

Robson went on to make 20 appearances for the England national team, making his debut in a November 1957 victory against [[France national football team|France]], scoring twice in a 4–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url          = http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/Managers/0,,10278~1241774,00.html
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130125201309/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/Managers/0%2C%2C10278~1241774%2C00.html
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-date = 25 January 2013
 |title        = Managers&nbsp;– Sir Bobby Robson
 |publisher    = Newcastle United F.C.
 |access-date   = 16 May 2007
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> Although he made a successful debut, he was dropped for England's next match, against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]], in favour of [[Bobby Charlton]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/48 48–49]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/48
 }}</ref> However, Robson was selected for the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]] squad, ahead of [[Nat Lofthouse]] and [[Stanley Matthews]], but returned from host nation Sweden disappointed after England were defeated by the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] in a group play-off match.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/53 53]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/53
 }}</ref>

Following the World Cup, Robson became an established member of the England squad, enjoying considerable success in a period between October 1960 and March 1961 when he played in six England victories, including scoring a goal in the record 9–3 defeat of Scotland at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/54 54]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/54
 }}</ref> He was selected for the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup finals]] in Chile, but an injury to his ankle sustained in a pre-tournament friendly against a Chilean club side ruled him out of most of the tournament. As Robson recalled, "I never played for England again... my international career was unfulfilled."<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/58 58–60]
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/58
 }}</ref> His place in the England team was taken by [[Bobby Moore]].<ref name="ODNB"/>

== Managerial career ==

=== Early club management ===
In 1959, the then [[England national football team manager|England manager]] and [[the Football Association]] (FA) director of coaching, [[Walter Winterbottom]], suggested to Robson that he take a coaching course at [[Lilleshall Hall|Lilleshall]].<ref name="p33to35"/> He obtained coaching qualifications during his second spell at Fulham, and coached [[Oxford University A.F.C.]]<ref name="ODNB"/> Robson made his debut as a manager in January 1968 at his former club Fulham, against [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]], then in the [[Cheshire County League]], in the third round of the [[FA Cup]]. Fulham were struggling with 16 points from 24 matches.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/299 299]
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/299
 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table/1968-01-20
| title = Fulham 1967-1968 : English Division One (old) Table as at 20 January 1968
| publisher = Statto
| access-date = 17 November 2013
| url-status=live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015200303/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table/1968-01-20
| archive-date = 15 October 2014
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> Despite the acquisition of the young [[Malcolm Macdonald]], Robson could not save the club from relegation to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]],<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/66 66]
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/66
 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table
| title = Fulham 1967-1968 : English Division One (old) Table
| publisher = Statto
| access-date = 17 November 2013
| url-status=live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231820/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table
| archive-date = 2 December 2013
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> and he left them in November<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://www.fulhamfc.com/history/managers/bobby-robson
 | title = Bobby Robson
 | access-date =17 November 2013
 | publisher=Fulham F.C.}}</ref> with the club sitting eighth in the Second Division. He discovered he had been sacked not from the club itself, but from the headline "Robson sacked" on an ''[[London Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]'' placard outside [[Putney railway station|Putney station]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/67 67–68]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/67
 }}</ref>

=== Ipswich Town ===
[[File:Aankomst Ipswich Town op Schiphol Ipswichtrainer Bobby Robson, Bestanddeelnr 929-8929.jpg|thumb|275px|Robson traveling with Ipswich Town, 1978]]
Robson moved on to Ipswich Town in 1969 and it was there that he established his reputation as a successful manager, supported by the club chairman [[John Cobbold (businessman)|John Cobbold]] and then later by his brother [[Patrick Cobbold]]. He was offered the vacant job at the Suffolk club after a chance encounter with Town director Murray Sangster while scouting at [[Portman Road]] for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] manager [[Dave Sexton]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/72 72]
 | chapter = The Last Corinthians
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/72
 }}</ref>

After four mediocre seasons, Robson led Ipswich to fourth place in the First Division and success in the [[Texaco Cup]] in the [[1972–73 in English football|1972–73]] season.<ref name=prideofanglia>{{cite web |url=http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?managerid=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216093746/http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?managerid=9 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |title=Bobby Robson |work=Pride of Anglia |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> In the following nine seasons, Ipswich finished lower than sixth place in the First Division only once, in the [[1977–78 in English football|1977–78]] season. However, that season was a success with a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the [[1978 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]].<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321993.stm
 | title = 1978 – Osbourne's year
 | date = 10 May 2001
 | access-date =16 May 2007
 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> His reign at Ipswich lasted 13 years, during which time the club twice finished as League runners-up, and made regular appearances in European competitions, winning the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in [[1980–81 UEFA Cup|1981]] with a 5–4 [[Two-legged match|aggregate]] victory over Dutch side [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ 67 Alkmaar]].<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1980/overview/index.html
 |title=Ipswich thankful for Thijssen
 |date=2 January 2006
 |access-date=17 November 2013
 |publisher=UEFA
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006103635/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D1980/overview/index.html
 |archive-date= 6 October 2013}}</ref> About that team, Robson said: "We played with two strikers, no wingers, Eric Gates sitting off the front two, two semi-wide midfield players in Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen and Johnny Wark sitting in the holding role".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/bobby-robson-one-one | title=Bobby Robson: One-on-One | date= 31 January 2003  | access-date = 20 March 2019 | publisher = Four four two}}</ref> During his 13-year tenure, he brought in only 14 players from other clubs, most notably [[Allan Hunter (footballer)|Allan Hunter]], [[Bryan Hamilton]] and [[Paul Mariner]], relying instead on players developed through Ipswich's youth programmes,<ref name=tenfacts>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413054251/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml |archive-date=13 April 2005 |title=Sir Bobby : Ten Facts |publisher= BBC Tyne|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> including [[Terry Butcher]], [[George Burley]], [[John Wark]], [[Mick Mills]], [[Colin Viljoen]], [[Alan Brazil]], [[Trevor Whymark]], [[Brian Talbot]], [[Kevin Beattie]] and [[Eric Gates]], who all went on to play international football. His imports included Dutch players [[Frans Thijssen]] and [[Arnold Mühren]].<ref name="ODNB"/> Robson "was not a tactical genius" but he "showed a talent for developing new players, with his good interpersonal skills, caring attitude, hard work and enthusiasm helping them to achieve their best".<ref name="ODNB"/>

In 2002, in recognition of his achievements with the club, a life-size statue of Robson was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand of Ipswich Town's ground, Portman Road.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2130373.stm
 | title = Sir Bobby Robson statue unveiled
 | date = 16 July 2002
 | access-date =14 May 2007
 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 7 July 2006, Robson was named as honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold who had died in 1987.<ref name="president">
{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/5156006.stm
 | title = Ipswich president role for Robson
 |work=BBC Sport
 | date = 6 July 2007
 | access-date =13 May 2007}}</ref>

=== England manager ===
Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him a job offer from the Football Association for the position of national coach in July 1982, and he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension and increased salary from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102 102]
 | chapter = A town awakes
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102
 }}</ref> On 7 July 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]], he succeeded [[Ron Greenwood]] as coach of the England national team,<ref name=espn/><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/31/sir-bobby-robson-obituary |title=Sir Bobby Robson | first=Brian | last=Glanville |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=31 July 2009|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> selecting former West Bromwich Albion teammate Don Howe as his chief coach.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m2j5ZKj993QC&q=robson+appointed+england+manager+%22don+howe%22&pg=PT84
| last = Robson
| title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
| date = 10 August 2006
| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
| isbn = 9781848946460
| access-date =4 February 2013}}</ref>

Robson's first match in charge saw immediate controversy, as he dropped [[Kevin Keegan]] for the match against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108 108]
 | chapter = Slings and arrows
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108
 }}</ref> On 21 September 1983, Robson suffered his only loss in the 28 qualifying matches he was to undertake as England manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamMgr/Mgr_Robson.html |title=Bobby Robson |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young |date=23 June 2012 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The defeat, again to Denmark, ultimately led to England's failure to qualify for the [[UEFA Euro 1984|1984 European Championships]]<ref name="euro record">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050404025043/http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 4 April 2005
 |title=England's Euro record
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> and resulted in Robson offering to resign in favour of [[Brian Clough]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110 110]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110
 }}</ref> The resignation was rejected by FA chairman [[Bert Millichip]] (primarily down to his and the FA's disdain for the controversial and outspoken Clough), and Robson went on to lead the England team to qualify for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]] in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20131118020841/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = 18 November 2013
 | title = The time is now
 | date = 24 May 2006
 | access-date = 17 November 2013
 | publisher = ESPN
 }}</ref>

England made a slow start at the World Cup, and captain [[Bryan Robson]] was injured with a recurrence of a dislocated shoulder.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |title=WORLD CUP 1986
 |work=web.ukonline.co.uk
 |access-date=17 June 2007
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501015338/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |archive-date=1 May 2007
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bobby Robson changed the team's tactics for the final match of the first round, selecting [[Peter Beardsley]] ahead of [[Mark Hateley]] as a strike partner for [[Gary Lineker]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121 121]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121
 }}</ref> The team won its next two matches, against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], 3–0, and qualified for the quarter-finals.<ref name=wc86>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851052.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Mexico 1986
| date = 4 May 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> England were defeated in the last eight by [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] with a brace of goals from [[Diego Maradona]], the infamous [[Hand of God goal|"Hand of God" goal]] and the "[[Goal of the Century]]" he scored five minutes later.<ref name=wc86/> Robson was unimpressed by Maradona's claim of divine intervention:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116 116]
 | chapter = A left hook
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116
 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|It wasn't the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it... That day, Maradona was diminished in my eyes forever.}}

Robson's England dropped only one point in qualifying for [[UEFA Euro 1988|Euro 1988]], which included an 8–0 victory over [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]].<ref name="euro record"/> However, this was followed by failure at the tournament itself, held in West Germany, where England were eliminated in the group stage. They finished bottom of their [[UEFA Euro 88#Group B|group]], succumbing to defeats against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]], the eventual winners, the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], and the eventual runners-up, the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406092625/http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=1988 European Championship
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> Robson was vilified by the British press, and after a draw in a friendly with [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in November 1988, one newspaper demanded, "In the name of Allah, go."<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/983995.stm
| title = English football's elder statesman
|work=BBC Sport
| date = 21 August 2000
| access-date =31 August 2007
}}</ref> Again Robson submitted his resignation, and again it was rejected by Millichip (again the FA's unwillingness to offer the job to Brian Clough is often cited as a reason).<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112 112]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112
 }}</ref>

Robson led England without conceding a goal through [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|the six-match qualification]] for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]] where they were one of six seeded teams.<ref name="italia 90">{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1990Finals.html
|title=Italy 1990 |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young
|date=27 May 2014 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> Again they were placed in a group with the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, with [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] the fourth side.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/wc90index.html
|title=World Cup 1990 – Match schedule
|work=Planet World Cup |publisher=Jan Alsos
|access-date=16 June 2007}}</ref> As in the 1986 World Cup, Robson was denied the service of his captain, Bryan Robson, who injured his [[achilles tendon]] which prevented him playing in the latter stages of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406221015/http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=Robbo ready for new challenge
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=16 August 2007
 |date=30 October 2003}}</ref> England topped their group, accumulating four points from their three matches.<ref name=italia90/> However, their progress was not without controversy. England changed formation from their traditional 4–4–2 to 5–3–2 incorporating a [[Sweeper (soccer)|sweeper]], with some sources suggesting this was due to player revolt after the 1–1 draw in the first match with the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3808127.stm
| title = Sven's toughest test?
| access-date =23 August 2007
| date = 16 June 2004
|first=Tom |last=Fordyce
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson denied this claim:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Zeroes to heroes
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132 132]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132
 }}</ref>{{blockquote|...I made the switch, not them. I had no intention of allowing [[Marco van Basten|van Basten]] and [[Ruud Gullit|Gullit]] to rip holes in us...}}
This was followed by victories over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] in the knock-out stages, to set up a semi-final with [[Germany national football team|West Germany]].<ref name=italia90>{{cite news
 | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1923000/1923882.stm
 | title=Statistics: Italy 1990
 |work=BBC Sport
 | access-date=16 August 2007
 | date = 12 April 2002
}}</ref> England lost the match on a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]], after the score had been tied at 1–1 following [[extra time]].<ref name=wc90>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851148.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Italy 1990
| date = 27 April 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson said afterwards: "[N]ot a day goes by when [he] does not think about the semi-final and other choices [he] might have made."<ref name="espn"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/well-done-sir-bobby-1-2124122 |title=Well done Sir Bobby |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |date=11 December 2007|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> Robson was the second coach, after [[Alf Ramsey]], to take England to a World Cup semi-final, and the first coach to do so on foreign soil, an achievement not equalled until [[Gareth Southgate]]'s team reached the semi-finals of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | work = [[East Anglian Daily Times]] | title = Ramsey, Robson... Southgate? A proud record Ipswich Town fans will be happy to see scrubbed | date = 7 July 2018 | first = Stuart | last = Watson | access-date = 21 March 2018 | archive-date = 21 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190321115655/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Robson's final game in charge of England was the third-place play off against hosts [[Italy national football team|Italy]], which England lost 2–1. He then took on the role as manager of PSV Eindhoven, and [[Graham Taylor]] was announced as his successor.

=== European club management ===
Before the 1990 World Cup, the FA told Robson it would not renew his contract as England manager, so he moved to the Netherlands to coach [[PSV Eindhoven]],<ref name=espn/><ref name="Guardian"/> succeeding manager [[Guus Hiddink]], who had left the team after leading them to [[1987–88 European Cup|European Cup]] victory and four consecutive [[Eredivisie]] titles. PSV sought a manager capable of instilling discipline into a fractious squad, much as Hiddink had done previously.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kuper |first=Simon |title=Football against the enemy |publisher=Orion |location=London |year=1996 |isbn=0-7528-4877-1|pages =93}}</ref> Robson described the move as "a culture shock" but felt "a sense of adventure".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = On the road
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/146 146–47]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/146
 }}</ref> News of Robson's new position in the Netherlands became public before the start of the 1990 World Cup, leading to [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] stories impugning Robson's patriotism; he sued ''[[Today (UK newspaper)|Today]]'' for calling him a "traitor".<ref name="ODNB"/>

The Dutch penchant for tactical debate surprised Robson. In an interview with ''Voetbal International'', he lamented: "An English pro accepts the manager's decision. After every match here, the substitutes come and visit me."<ref>Kuper, p96</ref> Another of his challenges at PSV was handling the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian international]] [[Romário]]. Robson became frustrated with the Brazilian's work ethic, although admitted "in some matches he would be scintillating".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148 148]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148
 }}</ref> Robson arranged showdown talks with Romário, with [[Frank Arnesen]], Robson's assistant, acting as a translator. The talks proved unsuccessful, with Romário unwilling to change his lifestyle.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148 148–150]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148
 }}</ref> Despite this, PSV won the Eredivisie in both the [[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]] and [[1991–92 Eredivisie|1991–92]] seasons. However, the team did not make the progress expected by the board in European competitions and Robson was informed he would be leaving the club at the end of the 1991–92 season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/150 150–53]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/150
 }}</ref>

Robson moved to [[Sporting CP]] in July 1992, where his Portuguese [[Interpreter (communication)|interpreter]] was a young [[José Mourinho]]. Robson guided the club to a third-place finish in his first season in charge while admitting the club was in "a terrible state". He described the club's president as a "loose cannon" who frequently signed players without Robson's consent.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/153 153–54]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/153
 }}</ref> Robson was sacked in December 1993, with the club sitting at the top of the league table. Club president [[Sousa Cintra]] cited the club's early exit from the [[1993–94 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], at the hands of [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Casino Salzburg]], as the reason for his dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0,,10278~2109011,00.html
 |title=Sir Bobby Robson
 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C.
 |access-date=4 February 2013
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219052615/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10278~2109011%2C00.html
 |archive-date=19 February 2013}}</ref>

[[File:RobsonLeagueFinishes.svg|right|thumb|League finishes for clubs managed by Robson (* indicates Robson left the club before the end of the season)]]

Sporting CP's rivals Porto quickly hired Robson, with Mourinho appointed as his assistant manager. Living in the same apartment block at the time was another future Porto, Chelsea and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] manager, the young [[André Villas-Boas]], who, aged 16, introduced himself to Robson. Robson subsequently appointed Villas-Boas to work in the Porto observation department and helped him gain his UEFA "C" coaching badge in Scotland, despite him technically being ineligible as he was aged 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/130/645/9/index.html |title=Novice delighting in the Dragao dugout |publisher=FIFA |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=17 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224061346/https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/130/645/9/index.html|archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1864227.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216070704/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1864227.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2013 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |via=Highbeam Research |title=Crucial role of boy scout who is Mourinho's 'eyes and ears' |date=11 July 2004 |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Porto were in a poor state when Robson arrived and the average attendance had dwindled to 10,000.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/158 158]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/158
 }}</ref> The club promptly went on to beat Robson's former club, Sporting CP, in the [[Taça de Portugal]] final,<ref name=espn/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/The-Sir-Bobby-Robson-Collection-article99379.html |title=The Sir Bobby Robson Collection |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |access-date=17 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013050824/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/The-Sir-Bobby-Robson-Collection-article99379.html |archive-date=13 October 2013}}</ref> following that achievement with successive [[Primeira Liga|League]] titles in the [[1994–95 Primeira Divisão|1994–95]] and [[1995–96 Primeira Divisão|1995–96]] seasons.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=103
|title=Sporting Lisbon&nbsp;– Porto
|work=FootballDerbies.com |access-date=19 June 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Bobby Robson Cropped.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Sir Bobby Robson at the Republic of Ireland versus Slovakia match in [[Croke Park]], Dublin on 29 March 2007]]

Such was the impact of Robson at Porto, he became known to the locals as "Bobby Five-O" in honour of the number of matches Porto won 5–0,<ref name=porto/> and he signed a new contract with the club in 1995.<ref name=porto>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/160 160–61]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/160
 }}</ref> Robson had [[melanoma]] and missed the first few months of the 1995–96 season. He still successfully led Porto in defence of their league title.<ref name=tactical/>

A phone call during the summer of 1996 from [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] vice-president [[Joan Gaspart]] to discuss [[Luís Figo]] resulted in an offer of employment with the Spanish club.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/168 168]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/168
 }}</ref> Robson took over in July 1996, where again his assistant was Mourinho; Robson had made Mourinho's move with him to the [[Camp Nou]] a condition of his employment.<ref name=tactical>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4475887.stm
|title=Tactical masters fight for glory
|work=BBC Sport
|date=26 April 2005
|access-date=15 June 2007
|first=Phil
|last=McNulty}}</ref> One of the key decisions Robson made during his brief tenure at Barcelona was the US$19.5&nbsp;million signing of [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]],<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2002/08/31/ronaldo_facts_reuters/
 |title       = Fast facts on Ronaldo
 |date        = 31 August 2002
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071103225524/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2002/08/31/ronaldo_facts_reuters/
 |archive-date = 3 November 2007
 |magazine    = Sports Illustrated
 |url-status  = dead
}}</ref> who was influential in a [[1996–97 FC Barcelona season|season]] when Barcelona won the [[1996–97 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]], [[1996 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]] and [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/historia/entrenadors/Robson.html
| title = Managers&nbsp;– Bobby Robson (1996–97)
| access-date =17 November 2013
| publisher=FC Barcelona
}}</ref> Robson himself was voted European Manager of the Year for 1996–97, while Ronaldo stated, "as a trainer without doubt [Robson] is one of the greatest in the world".<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2777333.stm
| title = Ronaldo praises Robson
| date = 25 February 2003
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref>

The 1997–98 season saw Robson moved "upstairs" to the general manager position, with [[Louis van Gaal]] taking over as manager,<ref name=espn/><ref name=Guardian21Sep09Memorial/> but Robson stayed in this position for only one season before returning to manage PSV on a short-term deal for the [[1998–99 in Dutch football|1998–99]] season.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/75031.stm
| title = Bobby Robson returns to PSV
|work=BBC Sport
| date = 6 April 1998
| access-date =16 August 2007
}}</ref> PSV missed out on the league title, finishing third behind [[Feyenoord]] and [[Willem II (football club)|Willem II]],<ref>{{Cite web
| url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned99.html
| access-date =4 February 2013
| title =Netherlands 1998/99
| publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
}}</ref> but Robson still led the club to victory in the [[Johan Cruyff Shield]] and also qualification for the [[UEFA Champions League]] on the last day of the season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/185 185]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/185
 }}</ref>

=== Return to England ===
After Robson's contract with PSV expired, he returned to England to take up a position in the Football Association's technical department.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/news/432906.stm
| title = Robson: Dream to manage Newcastle
|work=BBC Sport
| access-date =17 August 2007
| date = 30 August 1999
}}</ref> Following the resignation of [[Ruud Gullit]] as Newcastle United manager, Robson moved to St James' Park in September 1999.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/436390.stm
| title = Robson takes Newcastle hotseat
| date = 3 September 1999
| access-date =15 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson was disappointed with the club's opening salary offer, stating, "[I]t was miles below the going rate," but negotiated a one-year, £1&nbsp;million deal.<ref name=p190>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Going home
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/190 190]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/190
 }}</ref>

In Robson's first home match in charge, bottom-placed Newcastle faced second bottom Sheffield Wednesday, thrashing them 8–0. In his first season in charge, [[1999-2000 in English football|1999–2000]], Robson led the club to an 11th-place finish, with 14 wins from his 32 matches in charge.<ref name=p190/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng00.html|title=England 1999/2000|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=26 August 2007}}</ref> In late 2000, following the resignation of ex-''Magpies'' boss Kevin Keegan as England manager, the FA asked Newcastle club chairman [[Freddy Shepherd]] to permit Robson to take over in a part-time [[caretaker manager|caretaker]] capacity, but the request was refused.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66093481.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150328143711/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66093481.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date = 28 March 2015
| title = Football: FA Warned: Hands off our Bobby
|newspaper=Sunday Mirror |location=London |via=Highbeam Research
| date = 15 October 2000
| access-date =4 February 2013
|first=Brian |last=McNally}}</ref> Robson guided Newcastle from bottom of the [[Premier League]] to a fourth-place finish in the [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]] season.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fa2002.htm
|title=2001–02: F.A. Premier League
|work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The following season, Newcastle finished third, ensuring qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fa2003.htm
|title=2002–03: F.A. Premier League
|work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref>
However, Robson was unable to guide Newcastle through the Champions League qualifying rounds, and the club was dropped to participate in the [[2003–04 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] for the 2003–04 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/aug/29/newsstory.sport4 |title=Newcastle pay price of failure |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Michael |last=Walker |date= 29 August 2003|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> At the end of the [[2003-04 in English football|2003–04 season]], Newcastle finished fifth in the table, five points short of the Champions League qualifying fourth place but reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup before losing to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3685411.stm |title=Newcastle's Euro dream over|work=BBC Sport |access-date=4 February 2013| date = 6 May 2004}}</ref>

Robson held the Newcastle post until 30 August 2004, when he was dismissed by Freddy Shepherd, after a poor start to the Premier League season and alleged discontent in the dressing room.<ref>
{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3610042.stm
| title = Newcastle force Robson out
| date = 30 August 2004
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson's dismissal followed publication of his [[Source (journalism)#Speaking terms|off the record]] observation of his disappointment that only 5,000 fans stayed to see the traditional lap of honour made by the players at St James' Park at the end of the previous season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/257 257]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/257
 }}</ref> However, he remains held in the highest esteem by some fans;<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/5957379/Sir-Bobby-Robson-Newcastles-saviour-and-inspiration-to-Alan-Shearer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/5957379/Sir-Bobby-Robson-Newcastles-saviour-and-inspiration-to-Alan-Shearer.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live
|title=Sir Bobby Robson: Newcastle's saviour and inspiration to Alan Shearer
|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London
|first = Henry
|last = Winter
|date = 2 August 2009
|access-date=4 February 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> he was granted the [[Freedom of the City]] of [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] on 2 March 2005.<ref name=free>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/4309779.stm
|title=Sir Bobby receives city freedom
|work=BBC News
|date=2 March 2005
|access-date=10 June 2007}}</ref>

{{blockquote|What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It's not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It's a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father's hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.<br>{{align|right|– Robson<ref>{{cite news|title="It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging": What does NUFC mean to you? |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-robson-quote-tell-6260751 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=22 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522033937/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-robson-quote-tell-6260751 |archive-date=22 May 2014}}</ref>}}}}

Robson's second autobiography, entitled ''Bobby Robson: Farewell but not Goodbye'' was released in 2005.<ref>{{cite book|title=Farewell But Not Goodbye (Hardcover)
|id={{ASIN|0340823461|country=uk}}
}}</ref> The title is based on one of his quotes upon leaving the England job in 1990: "I'm here to say goodbye—maybe not goodbye but farewell."<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.nufc.com/html/bobby-quotes.html
| title = Newcastle United Football Club&nbsp;– Bobby Quotes (#16)
|work=NUFC.com
| access-date =27 May 2007
}}</ref> Robson was critical of Shepherd in the book, claiming that he was denied information regarding the players' contracts and transfer negotiations by Shepherd while Robson was manager.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McRae |first=Donald |date=2005-07-24 |title=Interview with Sir Bobby Robson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jul/25/newsstory.sport8 |access-date=2025-10-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He also criticised Shepherd and the club's deputy chairman [[Douglas Hall (businessman)|Douglas Hall]], for their focus on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous issues, such as the training ground, youth development and talent scouts.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Going home
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/195 195–197]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/195
 }}</ref> The club's training ground was later blamed by [[Graeme Souness]], Robson's successor, for a series of injuries to first team players.<ref>{{cite news
| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2366932/Owen-injury-blamed-on-training-pitch.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2366932/Owen-injury-blamed-on-training-pitch.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live
| title = Owen injury blamed on training pitch
|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London | date = 20 October 2005
| access-date =17 November 2013
| first=Rob
| last=Stewart}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Football consultant for Republic of Ireland and retirement ===
On 7 June 2005, Robson declined the invitation to become director of football of [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] because he wanted to stay in the Newcastle area.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4612251.stm
| title = Robson rejects approach by Hearts
| date = 7 June 2005
| access-date =15 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> On 13 January 2006, [[Steve Staunton]] was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, with Robson named in a support role as "international football consultant".<ref name="consultant">{{cite news
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4610306.stm
| title = Republic appoint Staunton as boss
| date = 13 January 2006
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson stepped down from his role of consultant on 17 November 2007 following the nation's final match in their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ireland-robson-idUKL154249520071115
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208094953/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ireland-robson-idUKL154249520071115
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 8 December 2015
| title = Robson ready to retire from pitch at 74
| date = 15 November 2007
| access-date =17 November 2013
| work=Reuters
| first=Mitch
| last=Phillips}}</ref> Robson was a former vice president of the [[League Managers Association]], a non-executive role.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.leaguemanagers.com/lma/structure-3.html
 |title=LMA Structure
 |access-date=2 November 2007
 |publisher=League Managers Association
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327225931/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/lma/structure-3.html
 |archive-date=27 March 2008}}</ref>

== Style of management ==
Robson was known for his man-management skills, his composed and demanding yet caring style as a coach, and for his ability to motivate his players and build positive relationships with them, making him a well-liked figure among fans and players alike.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Bobby Robson: 6 of His Best Moments During a Truly Magnificent Managerial Career |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/07/31/sir-bobby-robson-6-his-best-moments-during-truly-magnificent-managerial-career |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en-us |date=31 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Bobby Robson: In Others' Words |url=https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/sir-bobby-robson-newcastle-united-england/ |publisher=The Coaches' Voice |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Shea |first1=Mary |title=Sir Bobby Robson: Farewell to a Legend and a Gentleman |work=Bleacher Report |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/227828 |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Bobby Robson praised by Luis Enrique |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37374268/sir-bobby-robson-praised-barcelona-coach-luis-enrique |work=ESPN.com |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en |date=31 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hodson |first1=Tony |title=Sir Bobby |url=https://www.coachesvoice.com/robbie-elliott-sir-bobby-robson-newcastle-england-barcelona/ |publisher=The Coaches' Voice |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=11 September 2020}}</ref> His profile on the website of the "National Football Museum Hall of Fame" describes him as "a tough taskmaster," who was "fiercely loyal to those who gave their all, and never failed to get the very best out of his players."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Bobby Robson Hall of Fame profile |url=https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/sir-bobby-robson/ |publisher=National Football Museum |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref> Gary Lineker opined that Robson "wasn't the greatest tactician of world football," but that "he had a good understanding of the game," describing him with the following words: "He was fiercely loyal to the players who served him well, he understood the game and he had this magnetic enthusiasm, not just for football, but for everything in life. You just wanted to go out there and run yourself into the ground for him and the team."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fifield |first1=Dominic |last2=Kay |first2=Oliver |title=England 55 years of hurt - by the players who lived it |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2679669/2021/07/10/englands-55-years-of-hurt-by-the-players-who-lived-it/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=10 July 2021}}</ref> Mourinho, who initially served as an interpreter and later as an assistant coach under Robson at Barcelona, praised him for his leadership and for his methodology in the attacking phase of the game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Luke |title=Sir Bobby Robson remembered: His proteges tell Telegraph Sport 'he made me a better man' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/07/26/sir-bobby-robsons-proteges-tell-telegraph-sport-made-better/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph |date=26 July 2019}}</ref> His style also influenced Villas-Boas, who worked under him at Porto.<ref name="Philosophy">{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Glenn |title=Philosophy of Sir Bobby still moulds game's great tacticians |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/philosophy-of-sir-bobby-still-moulds-game-s-great-tacticians-2367207.html |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=The Independent |date=7 October 2011 |language=en}}</ref> Robson often used a [[4–4–2 formation]] throughout his career.<ref name="Philosophy"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Glanville |first1=Brian |title=Sir Bobby Robson 1933 2009: the bravest knight |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/sir-bobby-robson-1933-2009-the-bravest-knight-02vgkjvgrvs |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=4 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> At Ipswich Town, however, he had used a 4–4–2 diamond, without wingers, and with a holding midfielder, and an attacking midfielder behind the strikers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Gary |title=Bobby Robson: One-on-One |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/bobby-robson-one-one |publisher=fourfourtwo.com |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en |date=31 January 2003}}</ref> During the 1990 World Cup, he also changed England's set-up and used a [[Formation (association football)#3–5–2|3–5–2/5–3–2 formation]] with a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yule |first1=Bob |title=How Jim Smith's 3-5-2 revolution at QPR altered the face of English football |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/sep/08/jim-smith-qpr-revolution-352-first-division |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=FourFourTwo Staff |title=In praise of Sir Bobby Robson |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/praise-sir-bobby-robson |publisher=fourfourtwo.com |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en |date=31 July 2009}}</ref>

== Life outside football ==

===Personal life===
Robson met Elsie Gray on a trip back to his parents' home in Langley Park.<ref name="ODNB"/> Gray was a student nurse, and later a teacher.<ref name="ODNB"/> They were married on 25 June 1955<ref name="ODNB"/> with Fulham teammate [[Tom Wilson (footballer, born 1930)|Tom Wilson]] as Robson's [[best man]].<ref name=Guardian21Sep09Memorial/>

After 1991, Robson was repeatedly diagnosed with cancer. He had several operations and in 2006 was operated on for a brain tumour.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/151 151–53]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/151
 }}</ref> This, on occasion, affected his work; while at Porto, for example, Robson had melanoma, which resulted in his missing the first few months of the 1995–96 season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/162 162–68]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/162
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5249042.stm|title=Robson discharged from hospital|work=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2006|access-date=13 May 2007}}</ref>
On 17 October 2006, it was revealed that Robson had been given the all-clear and was set to see out his contract as consultant to the Irish team.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/cwidkfmheykf/?from=iol
| title=Robson gets the all-clear
| work=BreakingNews.i.e.
| publisher=Landmark Digital
| date=17 October 2006
| access-date=17 November 2013
| archive-date=18 October 2014
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018073625/http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/cwidkfmheykf/?from=iol
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> Robson revealed on 7 May 2007 he had been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.<ref name="ROBSON FIGHTING CANCER AGAIN">{{cite web
| url = http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101795.php
| title = Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trial And Research Centre Launched
|website=Medical News Today
| date =26 March 2008
| access-date = 4 February 2013
}}</ref> On 17 May 2008, Robson was the guest of honour at the [[2008 FA Cup Final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] when [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] defeated [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] 1–0. He presented the trophy to the victorious captain, [[Sol Campbell]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7406139.stm| title = FA Cup final as it happened | date = 17 May 2008| access-date = 21 March 2019| work = BBC Sport}}</ref>

=== Other activities ===
Robson made a number of product endorsements, including an appearance in [[Carlsberg Group|Carlsberg]]'s "Best Pub Side" television commercial.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.thefa.com/England/News/2006/Carlsberg_advertisement
| title = Probably the best pub team
| publisher=The Football Association
| date = 19 April 2006
| access-date =20 September 2010}}</ref> He also acted as a [[Pundit (expert)|pundit]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] during the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3804791.stm
|title=Reasons to be cheerful
|first=Tom |last=Fordyce
|work=BBC Sport
|date=14 June 2004
|access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref>

=== Bobby Robson Foundation ===
Robson defeated [[Colorectal cancer|bowel cancer]] in 1992, a melanoma in 1995, as well as a [[Tumor|tumour]] in his right lung and a brain tumour, both in 2006. Treatment of these conditions had left him partially [[paralyse]]d due to a stroke caused by the brain tumour, and also with a partially [[Prosthesis|prosthetic]] upper jaw after the melanoma was surgically removed. His fifth diagnosis of cancer in 2007, consisting of cancerous nodules in both lungs, was diagnosed as [[Terminal illness|terminal]] in February 2007, and as of December 2008, was being controlled through bouts of [[chemotherapy]].<ref name="Journal25Mar08HallTreatments">{{cite news
|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sir-bobby-admits-time-running-4508825
|title=Sir Bobby admits time is running out, but battles on for charity
|date=25 March 2008
|newspaper=The Journal
|location=Newcastle upon Tyne
|first=Jane
|last=Hall
|access-date=17 November 2013
|archive-date=20 October 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020090959/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sir-bobby-admits-time-running-4508825
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> After these experiences, and following his fifth diagnosis with cancer, Robson devoted the remaining years of his life to helping fight the disease. On 25 March 2008, he launched the [[Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]]. The Foundation raised over £1&nbsp;million,<ref name="ODNB"/> which funded equipment for the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, in the [[Freeman Hospital]] in Newcastle upon Tyne, and would go on to fund other cancer projects in the North East of England.<ref name="EveningChronicle24Apr08Dinner">{{cite news
 |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/stars-turn-out-sir-bobbys-1469375
 |title=Stars to turn out for Sir Bobby's fundraising dinner
 |date=24 April 2008
 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne
 |first=Liz |last=Walker
 |access-date=17 November 2013
 |quote=Its first goal is to raise the money urgently required to set up the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care. The money raised will fund dedicated research facilities including a 12-bed unit with treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art laboratory and consulting facilities, all of which is being constructed by the NHS Trust at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Once the foundation has raised sufficient funds to set up the centre, all additional money will go towards cancer-related projects in the North East. The charity has raised more than £260,000 in just over two weeks...
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017054600/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/stars-turn-out-sir-bobbys-1469375
 |archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref>

In aid of the Foundation, Robson's 1990 World Cup semi-final [[1990 FIFA World Cup#Semi-finals|4–3 loss after penalties]] against West Germany was replayed on 26 July 2009 as the [[Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match]] at St James' Park, featuring players from the [[1990 FIFA World Cup squads|original 1990 World Cup squads]] and other special guests.<ref name="Telegraph5214081">{{cite news
 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/england/5214081/England-Italia-90-team-to-re-stage-Germany-semi-in-aid-of-Sir-Bobby-Robson-charity.html
 |title=England Italia '90 team to re-stage Germany semi in aid of Sir Bobby Robson charity
 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London
 |date=24 April 2009
 |access-date=24 April 2009
 |archive-date=27 April 2009
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427171500/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/england/5214081/England-Italia-90-team-to-re-stage-Germany-semi-in-aid-of-Sir-Bobby-Robson-charity.html
 |quote=Sir Bobby Robson is hoping to settle an old score after England and Germany players who contested the heart-breaking 1990 World Cup semi-final agreed to re-stage the epic game to boost his fund-raising efforts.
 |first=Rob
 |last=Stewart
 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Chronicle23464524">{{cite news
 |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/04/24/england-v-germany-rematch-to-honour-sir-bobby-robson-72703-23464524/
 |title=England v Germany rematch to honour Sir Bobby Robson
 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne
 |date=24 April 2009
 |access-date=24 April 2009
 |quote=...the match, which will take place on July&nbsp;26 at St James' Park...As well as reuniting 1990 England players, Sir Bobby is also planning on calling on some other famous guests to add to his team. He said: "I'm very grateful to my former players who are coming up to Newcastle to help us raise money for my charity. I'm also very appreciative of the efforts of the German players who have so much further to travel.
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223125852/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/04/24/england-v-germany-rematch-to-honour-sir-bobby-robson-72703-23464524/
 |archive-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> Robson was given a guard of honour before the match, which finished 3–2 to the England side.<ref name=NorthernEcho26Jul09>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4513115.Sir_Bobby_Robson_Trophy__Final_Score___England_3_Germany_2/ |title=Sir Bobby Robson Trophy: Final Score&nbsp;— England 3 Germany 2 |date=26 July 2009 |access-date=20 September 2010 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |first=Mark |last=Tallentire}}</ref>

At the time of Robson's death, the Foundation had raised £1.6&nbsp;million.<ref name=Time1Aug09Total>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6735581.ece
 |title=Sir Bobby Robson's legacy lives on in charity
 |newspaper=[[The Times]]
 |date=1 August 2009
 |access-date=20 September 2009
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024052125/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6735581.ece
 |archive-date=24 October 2012
 |location=London
 |first=George
 |last=Caulkin
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Donations totalling £156,000 were received by the Foundation in the 18 days following his death,<ref name=NewsGuardian18Sep09>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/latest-news/Sir-Bobby-Robson-foundation-total.5659731.jp
 |title=Sir Bobby Robson foundation total soars
 |newspaper=News Guardian
 |location=Morpeth
 |date=18 September 2009
 |access-date=20 September 2009
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223155723/http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/latest-news/Sir-Bobby-Robson-foundation-total.5659731.jp
 |archive-date=23 December 2012
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> and on 15 October 2009, it was announced the Foundation had raised over £2&nbsp;million, and that at the request of Robson's family, [[Alan Shearer]] would take over Robson's role as the Foundation's patron.<ref name=AP15Oct09>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gzEzVjOMOH_DXF3YXrRwRclp1XEQ
 |title=Robson cancer fund at £2m: Shearer
 |agency=Press Association
 |date=15 October 2009
 |access-date=15 October 2009
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524125032/https://www.webcitation.org/5kXlnngzP?url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gzEzVjOMOH_DXF3YXrRwRclp1XEQ
 |archive-date=24 May 2024
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It passed the £2.5&nbsp;million mark in September 2010.<ref name=BBC16Sep2010Mark>{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11327084
|title=Sir Bobby Robson Foundation reaches £2.5m mark
|work=BBC News
|date=16 September 2010
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref> Three other patrons were added in 2010, [[Steve Gibson (businessman)|Steve Gibson]], [[Mick Mills]] and [[Niall Quinn]].<ref name=SBRFoundationBlog15Feb2010GibsonPatron>{{cite web
 |url=https://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/02/steve-gibson-becomes-teesside-patron-of_15.html
 |title=Steve Gibson Becomes Teesside Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |publisher=Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |date=15 February 2010
 |access-date=29 March 2011
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827082429/http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/02/steve-gibson-becomes-teesside-patron-of_15.html
 |archive-date=27 August 2011
 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SBRFoundationBlog23Apr2010MillsPatron>{{cite web
 |url=https://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/04/ipswich-legend-mick-mills-becomes.html
 |title=Ipswich Legend Mick Mills Becomes Suffolk's Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |publisher=Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |date=23 April 2010
 |access-date=29 March 2011
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827082930/http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/04/ipswich-legend-mick-mills-becomes.html
 |archive-date=27 August 2011
 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SBRFoundationBlog5Nov2010QuinnPatron>{{cite web
 |url=https://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/11/niall-quinn-becomes-patron-of-sir-bobby.html
 |title=Niall Quinn Becomes A Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |publisher=Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
 |date=5 November 2010
 |access-date=29 March 2011
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827083219/http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/11/niall-quinn-becomes-patron-of-sir-bobby.html
 |archive-date=27 August 2011
 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Death ==
On 31 July 2009, Robson died of lung cancer at his home in [[Beamish, County Durham]],<ref name = ODNB/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jonathan |last=Stewart |url=http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=97315 |title=Football legend Sir Bobby Robson dies |work=4ni |publisher=Flagship Media Group |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605043039/http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=97315 |archive-date= 5 June 2011}}</ref> aged 76, after a long battle with the disease.<ref name="bbcdeath"/> After the news of his death, leading figures from the world of football and politics paid tribute to him. Manchester United manager [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] called him a "great friend, a wonderful individual and tremendous football man". [[UEFA]] president [[Michel Platini]] said: "He will be remembered not only for his playing career and his outstanding managerial career at both club and international level, but also because he was a truly warm and passionate human being." Gary Lineker said, "It is a sad day and a great loss. He was a wonderful man and will be deeply missed by everybody in the country. I never played for a more enthusiastic man. He gave so much to the game."<ref>{{cite news | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8177945.stm | title= Legend Sir Bobby Robson, 76, dies |work=BBC Sport | date=31 July 2009}}</ref> Former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Tony Blair]] described Robson as a "real Geordie gentleman".<ref name=Tributes>{{cite news
 | title = Football honours Sir Bobby Robson
 |work=BBC Sport
 | date = 31 July 2009
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8178079.stm}}</ref> According to the then-Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]], Robson "epitomised everything that is great about football in this country".<ref name=Tributes/> His friend, the broadcaster [[Michael Parkinson]], said, "Robson will be remembered long after the present lot are old bones. By his decency, his humour, his love of the game's traditions and origins and confusion at what it had become, he made present day football look what it is – shabby by comparison. I can think of no more fitting epitaph."<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/four-years-death-sir-bobby-5388894 | title= Four years on since the death of Sir Bobby Robson | work=Evening Chronicle | date=31 July 2013 | access-date=1 September 2018 | first=Andrew | last=Fowler}}</ref>

Robson's funeral, a private family ceremony, took place on 5 August 2009. The location remained undisclosed at the request of his family until the funeral had taken place. It was later revealed to be [[Esh, County Durham]].<ref name="Funeral">
{{cite news
 |title=Sir Bobby laid to rest near where he grew up
 |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-laid-rest-near-1458275
 |date=6 August 2009
 |access-date=17 November 2013
 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017054640/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-laid-rest-near-1458275
 |archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> A thanksgiving service for Robson was held on 21 September 2009 at [[Durham Cathedral]]. One thousand invited guests attended the service, which was also broadcast live on national television, and to Newcastle United's St James' Park, Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground and Fulham's Craven Cottage.<ref name=Guardian21Sep09Memorial>{{cite news
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/21/sir-bobby-robson-memorial-service2
|title=Sir Bobby Robson's memorial service: football figures assemble in Durham
|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=21 September 2009
|access-date=17 November 2013
| first=Paul
| last=Hayward
}}</ref>
Robson was survived by his wife and their three sons: Andrew, Paul and Mark.<ref name=Guardian21Sep09Memorial/><ref>{{cite news
| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2499521.stm
| title=Sir Bobby Robson receives knighthood
|work=BBC News
| date=21 November 2002
| access-date=15 May 2007
}}</ref>
<!--Robson's charitable activities have included giving a Masterclass to local children following "the end of the EU-China summit" in Beijing, China with [[Tony Blair]] in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/bobby_robson_gallery.shtml?1
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040916170112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/bobby_robson_gallery.shtml?1
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 16 September 2004
| title = Masterclass to local children in Beijing
|publisher=BBC (Tyne)
| access-date =15 May 2007
}}</ref> He was also been involved in ''Football Aid'' and a [[CLIC Sargent]] five-a-side tournament.<ref>{{Cite web
| url =http://www.citmagazine.com/features_story.cfm?ID=517
| title = ''Football Aid (http://www.footballaid.com) '' involvement]: ''Conference & Incentive Travel'' (Features)
| access-date =15 May 2007
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/191388/ever_dreamt_of_playing_against_a_team_of_legends.html
| title = ''CLIC Sargent'' five-a-side tournament: ''4TheGame''
| date = 14 July 2006
| access-date =15 May 2007
}}</ref> He is known to be prone to occasional verbal gaffes.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/tyne
| title = Prone to occasional verbal gaffes
|publisher=BBC (Tyne)
| date = 28 February 2005
| access-date =15 May 2007
}}</ref>-->

== Achievements ==
[[File:Bobby Robson Statue Closeup.jpg|thumb|200px|Statue of Robson at [[Portman Road]] in [[Ipswich]]]]
Robson was awarded a number of honours for his contributions to football. In 1990, at the end of his eight-year reign as England manager, he was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] in 1991<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52382 |date=28 December 1990  |page=8 |supp=y}}</ref> and in 2002, he was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]];<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56595 |date=15 June 2002 |page=1 |supp=y}}</ref> both awards were for services to football.<ref name="honours autobiography">{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/297 297]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/297
 }}</ref><ref name = "BBC-Kanighits">{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2499521.stm
 |work=BBC News
 | date = 21 November 2002
 | access-date =16 August 2007
 | title = Sir Bobby Robson receives knighthood
}}</ref>

In 2002 (during his time as Newcastle manager), the 69-year-old Robson was awarded the [[Freedom of the city|freedom]] of Newcastle upon Tyne and the [[UEFA President's Award]] for "services to football".<ref name=nufc/><ref name="WBA Whos Who"/> He was inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2003 in recognition of his impact as a manager.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/3226950.stm
 | title = Robson joins Hall of Fame
 | work=BBC Sport
 | access-date =4 February 2013
 | date = 2 December 2003
}}</ref> Following his time as Newcastle United manager in 2005, Robson was made an Honorary Freeman of Newcastle,<ref name=free/> which, in his autobiography, he described as being "the proudest moment of my life".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/294 294]
 | chapter = Hello and goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/294
 }}</ref> Robson also won the 1992&nbsp;Football Writers' Association Tribute Award for an outstanding contribution to the national game,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsFWATribute.html |title=England Honours&nbsp;– Football Writers' Association Tribute Award
|work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> and the 2001 British Sports Writers' Association Pat Besford Trophy for Outstanding Achievement.<ref name = "BBC-Kanighits"/> In 2005, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Sports Coach UK Awards,<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/4508254.stm
 | title = Fletcher honoured with top award
 | access-date =31 August 2007
 | date = 7 December 2005
 |work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> and was also awarded the Eircom International Personality of the Year in 2006.<ref name="honours autobiography"/> On 9 December 2007, Robson was awarded the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] at the [[BBC]]'s [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year|Sports Personality of the Year]] show in recognition of "his contribution as both player and manager in a career spanning more than half a century".<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7134846.stm
 | title = Robson wins BBC achievement award
 | access-date =8 December 2007
 | date = 8 December 2007
 |work=BBC Sport
}}</ref>

On 5 May 2008, during the 30th anniversary celebrations of Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup win, Robson was granted the Freedom of [[Ipswich]] by the Lady Mayor.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/7384954.stm
 | title = Sir Bobby given freedom of town
 | date = 6 May 2008
 | access-date =21 June 2008
 |work=BBC News}}</ref> On 8 December 2008, he earned another such accolade when he was given the Freedom of the [[Durham, England|City of Durham]].<ref>{{cite news
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/7770684.stm
 | title = Sir Bobby to become city Freeman
 | date = 8 December 2008
 | access-date =8 December 2008
 |work=BBC News
}}</ref> In March 2009, UEFA awarded Robson the Emerald UEFA Order of Merit award, awarded to "individuals who have dedicated their talents to the good of the game".<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d7-0f85b3e8fc47-7a3a9813f01f-1000--uefa-tribute-to-loyal-football-servants/
 |title=UEFA tribute to loyal football servants
 |date=24 March 2009
 |access-date=20 September 2010
 |publisher=UEFA
 |first=Mark
 |last=Chaplin
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025151656/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/organisation/congress/news/newsid%3D813078.html
 |archive-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> The award was presented to Robson at St James' Park on 26 July 2009, prior to the Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match, and just five days before his death.<ref name=NorthernEcho26Jul09/>

=== Posthumous honours ===
In December 2009, Robson was posthumously awarded the [[FIFA Fair Play Award]], for the "gentlemanly qualities he showed throughout his career as a player and coach".<ref name=FIFA21Dec2009>{{cite press release
 |url         = https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/gala/news/newsid=1149850.html
 |title       = Fair Play Award honours Robson
 |publisher   = FIFA
 |date        = 21 December 2009
 |access-date  = 29 March 2011
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20111230210922/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/gala/news/newsid=1149850.html
 |archive-date = 30 December 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |df          = dmy
}}</ref> All English football league matches held a [[one minute's applause]] in his memory at the beginning of the 2009–10 season.<ref name="ODNB"/>

[[The Football League]] gave Newcastle United and Ipswich Town special dispensation to wear special commemorative kits for their [[EFL Championship|Championship]] match on 26 September 2009 at Portman Road, in aid of Sir Bobby's Foundation. At half-time during this match, the North Stand of Portman Road was renamed the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.<ref name=BBC18Sep09>{{cite news
 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8263229.stm
 |title=League allows Robson tribute kits
 |work=BBC Sport
 |date=18 September 2009
 |access-date=20 September 2009
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923193718/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8263229.stm
 |archive-date=23 September 2009
 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC2Nov2009Shirts>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/8337473.stm
|title=Sir Bobby shirts raise thousands
|work=BBC News
|date=2 November 2009
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref><ref name=BBC13Jan2010ShirtSales>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8456703.stm
|title=Sir Bobby Newcastle shirt sales aid teenage cancer unit
|work=BBC News
|date=13 January 2010
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref>

The first anniversary of Robson's death on 31 July 2010 was marked with a ceremony and pre-season [[Exhibition game|friendly match]] at Newcastle's St James' Park, between two of his former clubs Newcastle United and PSV Eindhoven, involving Robson's PSV captain [[Stan Valckx]] presenting a PSV shirt to the club.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10826983
|title=Sir Bobby remembered one year on since his death
|work=BBC News
|date=31 July 2010
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref>

In July 2010, plans were unveiled for a memorial garden to Robson to be built in Newcastle. It was to be created by the city council in partnership with the regeneration company NE1Ltd, and located on [[Newcastle upon Tyne City Centre#Gallowgate|Gallowgate]] street close to the Newcastle United stadium St James' Park. Work began on the site in November 2010, which was completed by Spring 2011. The garden covers 400 square meters, and features a tiered seating area and sculpted stone plinths reflecting aspects of his life and work. The area also hosts 400 square metre memorial garden to Sir Bobby Robson.<ref name=BBC26Jul2010GardenPlans>{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10764591
|title=Sir Bobby Robson's Tyneside garden tribute
|work=BBC News
|date=26 July 2010
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref><ref name=BBC22Nov2010GardenCommences>{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11810343
|title=Work starts on a memorial garden to Sir Bobby Robson
|work=BBC News
|date=22 November 2010
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref>

With a keen interest in cricket as well as football, Robson was to have replaced [[Mike Gatting]] as president of the [[Lord's Taverners]] charity and cricket club in 2007, but this was prevented by his ill-health. After his death, the club held a dinner in his honour, as "The best President we never had".<ref name=SBRFoundationBlog30Mar2010Dinner>{{cite web
 |url=https://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/03/tribute-to-best-president-we-never-had.html
 |title=Tribute To 'The Best President We Never Had'
 |date=30 March 2010
 |access-date=29 March 2011
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827082800/http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/03/tribute-to-best-president-we-never-had.html
 |archive-date=27 August 2011
 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2011, the [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast train operating company]] [[nameplate|named]] one of its [[British Rail Class 91|Class 91]] electric locomotives ''Sir Bobby Robson'', unveiled at [[Newcastle railway station|Newcastle station]] by his widow Elsie and Alan Shearer.<ref name=BBC29Mar2011Train>{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12890755
|title=Sir Bobby Robson name given to train
|work=BBC News
|date=29 March 2011
|access-date=29 March 2011
}}</ref><ref name=EastCoastTrains29Mar2011>{{cite press release
 |url=http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/Press-Release/2011/EAST-COAST-NAMES-TRAIN-SIR-BOBBY-ROBSON/
 |title=East Coast Names Train Sir Bobby Robson
 |publisher=East Coast Main Line Company
 |date=29 March 2011
 |access-date=29 March 2011
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527024214/http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/Press-Release/2011/EAST-COAST-NAMES-TRAIN-SIR-BOBBY-ROBSON/
 |archive-date=27 May 2011
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, in December 2011, the [[Port of Tyne]] Authority named its new work boat the ''Sir Bobby Robson''.<ref name=portoftyne>{{cite press release
|url=http://www.portoftyne.co.uk/news/port-of-tyne/new-boat-and-new-jobs-at-the-port-of-tyne/
|title=New Boat and New Jobs at the Port of Tyne
|publisher=Port of Tyne
|date=1 March 2012
|access-date=1 March 2012
}}</ref> On 6 May 2012, a statue of Robson created by sculptor [[Tom Maley (sculptor)|Tom Maley]] was unveiled at St James' Park before a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions Manchester City.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9228429/Bobby-Robson-statue-to-be-unveiled-by-Newcastle-United-at-St-James-Park.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | access-date =6 May 2012 | date = 26 April 2012 | title = Bobby Robson statue to be unveiled by Newcastle United at St James' Park |location=London}}</ref> On 16 July 2013, marking the 150th anniversary celebrations of the FA, the FA designated 10 August as the Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day, celebrated as a day to celebrate the national game.<ref name=sirBobby20130713>{{cite web| title = National Football Day | quote = The Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day will take place on 10 August 2013 |publisher=The Football Association | date = 16 July 2013 | url = http://www.thefa.com/News/2013/jan/fa-150-national-football-day| access-date = 16 July 2013}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager]]'', a feature-length British film about Robson's career and cancer diagnosis, was released to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pulver, Andrew|title=Bobby Robson: More Than a Manager review – portrait of an England icon|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/01/bobby-robson-more-than-a-manager-review|date=1 June 2018|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>

In September 2020, the Sir Bobby Robson School opened in Ipswich. The school will serve children aged 8–16 with social, emotional and mental health needs.<ref>{{cite news|author=Paper, Andrew|title=New Ipswich school named after Sir Bobby Robson opens - despite coronavirus delay|work=[[Ipswich Star]]|url=https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/sir-bobby-robson-school-ipswich-suffolk-opening-3392464|date=1 September 2020|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|[[1950–51 Football League|1950–51]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|[[1951–52 Football League|1951–52]]
|First Division
|16||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||3
|-
|[[1952–53 Football League|1952–53]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|35||19||1||0||colspan="2"|—||36||19
|-
|[[1953–54 Football League|1953–54]]
|Second Division
|33||13||1||1||colspan="2"|—||34||14
|-
|[[1954–55 Football League|1954–55]]
|Second Division
|42||23||1||0||colspan="2"|—||43||23
|-
|[[1955–56 Football League|1955–56]]
|Second Division
|25||10||2||0||colspan="2"|—||27||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!152!!68!!5!!1!!0!!0!!157!!69
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|[[1955–56 Football League|1955–56]]
|First Division
|10||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||1
|-
|[[1956–57 Football League|1956–57]]
|First Division
|39||12||2||1||colspan="2"|—||41||13
|-
|[[1957–58 Football League|1957–58]]
|First Division
|41||24||7||3||colspan="2"|—||48||27
|-
|[[1958–59 Football League|1958–59]]
|First Division
|29||4||1||1||colspan="2"|—||30||5
|-
|[[1959–60 Football League|1959–60]]
|First Division
|41||6||3||0||colspan="2"|—||44||6
|-
|[[1960–61 Football League|1960–61]]
|First Division
|40||5||1||0||colspan="2"|—||41||5
|-
|[[1961–62 Football League|1961–62]]
|First Division
|39||4||4||0||colspan="2"|—||43||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!239!!56!!18!!5!!colspan="2"|—!!257!!61
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|[[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]]
|First Division
|34||1||2||1||2||0||38||2
|-
|[[1963–64 Football League|1963–64]]
|First Division
|39||1||2||0||1||0||42||1
|-
|[[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]]
|First Division
|42||1||2||0||3||1||47||2
|-
|[[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]]
|First Division
|36||6||colspan="2"|—||3||0||39||6
|-
|[[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]]
|First Division
|41||0||3||0||3||0||47||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!192!!9!!9!!1!!12!!1!!213!!11
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Vancouver Royals]]
|[[United Soccer Association|1967]]
|[[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]]
|colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—
|-
|[[1968 North American Soccer League season|1968]]
|North American Soccer League
|colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!583!!133!!32!!7!!12!!1!!627!!141
|}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[England national football team|England]]
|1957||1||2
|-
|1958||4||0
|-
|1960||6||0
|-
|1961||8||2
|-
|1962||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!20!!4
|}

:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Robson goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Bobby Robson<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-intres50.html |title=England – International Results 1950–1959 – Details |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925001521/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-intres50.html |archive-date=25 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-intres60.html |title=England – International Results 1960–1969 – Details |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628195328/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-intres60.html |archive-date=28 June 2011}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || rowspan="2"|27 November 1957 || rowspan="2"|[[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London, England || rowspan="2"|{{fb|FRA}} || align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || align="center"|4–0
|-
| align="center"|3 || 15 April 1961 || Wembley Stadium, London, England || {{fb|SCO}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|9–3 || [[1961 British Home Championship]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || 10 May 1961 || Wembley Stadium, London, England || {{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|8–0 || Friendly
|}

== Managerial statistics ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2! width=120|Team
!rowspan=2! width=50|Nat
!rowspan=2! width=120|From
!rowspan=2! width=120|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!width=40|G
!width=40|W
!width=40|D
!width=40|L
!width=50|Win %
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|January 1968
|align=left|November 1968
{{WDL|36|6|9|21}}
|-
|align=left|[[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]<ref name=prideofanglia />
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|13 January 1969
|align=left|18 August 1982
{{WDL|709|316|173|220}}
|-
|align=left|[[England national football team|England]]<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/History/Postings/2003/09/10877.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050305060107/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/History/Postings/2003/09/10877.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 5 March 2005
 |title=England Hall of Fame
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=14 May 2007}}</ref>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|July 1982
|align=left|July 1990
{{WDL|95|47|30|18}}
|-
|align=left|[[PSV Eindhoven]]
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}}
|align=left|July 1990
|align=left|June 1992
{{WDL|76|52|17|7}}
|-
|align=left|[[Sporting CP]]
|{{flagicon|Portugal}}
|align=left|1 July 1992
|align=left|7 December 1993
{{WDL|59|34|13|12}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Porto|Porto]]
|{{flagicon|Portugal}}
|align=left|30 January 1994
|align=left|13 July 1996
{{WDL|120|86|23|11}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|{{flagicon|Spain}}
|align=left|May 1996
|align=left|June 1997
{{WDL|58|38|12|8}}
|-
|align=left|[[PSV Eindhoven]]
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}}
|align=left|July 1998
|align=left|June 1999
{{WDL|47|24|12|11}}
|-
|align=left|[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|2 September 1999<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/436390.stm|title=Robson takes Newcastle hotseat|work=BBC Sport|date=3 September 1999|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref>
|align=left|30 August 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3610042.stm|title=Newcastle force Robson out|work=BBC Sport|date=30 August 2004|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref>
{{WDL|255|119|64|72}}
|-
!align="center" colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|1455|722|353|380}}
|}

==Honours==
=== Player ===
'''England'''
* [[British Home Championship]]: [[1957–58 British Home Championship|1957–58]] (shared), [[1958–59 British Home Championship|1958–59]] (shared), [[1959–60 British Home Championship|1959–60]] (shared), [[1960–61 British Home Championship|1960–61]]<ref name = "online">{{cite web | url = http://www.englandfootballonline.com/teammgr/Mgr_Robson.html | title = Player, Manager, Sir Bobby Robson | work =  ENGLAND FOOTBALL ONLINE | access-date = 22 April 2022 }}</ref>

=== Manager ===
'''Ipswich Town'''
* [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1980–81 UEFA Cup|1980–81]]
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1977–78 FA Cup|1977–78]]
* [[Texaco Cup]]: [[1972–73 Texaco Cup|1972–73]]

'''PSV Eindhoven'''
* [[Eredivisie]]: [[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]], [[1991–92 Eredivisie|1991–92]]
* [[Johan Cruyff Shield]]: [[1998 Johan Cruyff Shield|1998]]

'''Porto'''
* [[Primeira Liga|Primeira Divisão]]: [[1994–95 Primeira Divisão|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Primeira Divisão|1995–96]]
* [[Taça de Portugal]]: [[1993–94 Taça de Portugal|1993–94]]
* [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]: [[1994 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1994]]

'''Barcelona'''
* [[Copa del Rey]]: [[1996–97 Copa del Rey|1996–97]]
* [[Supercopa de España]]: [[1996 Supercopa de España|1996]]
* [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]]

'''Newcastle United'''
* [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]] runners-up: [[2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2001]]

'''England'''
* [[British Home Championship]]: [[1982–83 British Home Championship|1982–83]]<ref name = "online"/>
* [[Rous Cup]]: [[1986 Rous Cup|1986]], [[1988 Rous Cup|1988]], [[1988 Rous Cup|1989]]<ref name = "online"/>

'''Individual'''
*''[[Rothmans Football Yearbook|Rothman's]]'' Golden Boot Awards: ''1978 Manager of the Year''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historical-lineups.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Season-Review7.pdf/ |website=Historical-Lineups |date=1978 |title=1978 British Team of the Season |access-date=22 December 2025 }}</ref>
* [[FWA Tribute Award]]: 1992<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/9/english-football/2009/07/31/1414449/english-angle-goalcom-remembers-the-legendary-sir-bobby|title=English Angle: Goal.com Remembers The Legendary Sir Bobby Robson (1933-2009)|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref>
* European Manager of the Year: 1996–97<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11356659/pep-guardiola-wanted-to-join-newcastle-under-bobby-robson|title=Pep Guardiola wanted to join Newcastle under Bobby Robson|date=4 May 2018|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[Premier League Manager of the Month]]: [[1999–2000 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 2000]], [[2000–01 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|August 2000]], [[2001–02 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|December 2001]], February 2002, [[2002–03 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|January 2003]], [[2003–04 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|October 2003]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/managers/1741/Bobby-Robson/overview |title=Manager profile: Bobby Robson |publisher=Premier League |access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref>
* BSWA Pat Besford Trophy: 2001<ref name = "manager">{{cite web | url = http://www.englandfootballonline.com/teammgr/Mgr_Robson.html | title = Manager, Sir Bobby Robson | publisher =  ENGLAND FOOTBALL ONLINE | access-date = 22 April 2022 }}</ref>
* [[UEFA President's Award]]: 2002<ref>{{cite news |title=David Beckham: Uefa to honour former England captain with President's Award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45257336 |access-date=6 December 2018 |publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>
* [[LMA Manager of the Year#Special Merit Award|LMA Special Merit Award]]: 2002<ref name = "manager"/>
* [[English Football Hall of Fame]] Inductee: 2003
* [[PFA Merit Award]]: 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2012/4/24/PFAMeritAwardGrahamAlexander |title=Preston's Alexander gets PFA award |publisher=The PFA |access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[FAI International Football Awards]] – International Personality: 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=17th eircom/FAI International Award winners announced|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1666|publisher=FAI|access-date=8 December 2018|date=4 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222071307/http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1666|archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref>
* [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2007<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7134846.stm|title=Robson humbled by lifetime award|date=9 December 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[FIFA Fair Play Award]]: 2009<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/news/fair-play-award-honours-robson-1149850|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124315/https://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/news/fair-play-award-honours-robson-1149850|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2018|title=Fair Play Award honours Robson|publisher=FIFA|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[FIFA Order of Merit]]: 2009<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA Order of Merit Holders|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r&a-awards/01/20/85/43/170490-factsheet-fifaorderofmerit%281984-2010%29_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002174800/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r%26a-awards/01/20/85/43/170490-factsheet-fifaorderofmerit%281984-2010%29_neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2013|access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref>
* UEFA Order of Merit: 2009
* [[Ipswich Town F.C. Hall of Fame|Ipswich Town Hall of Fame]]: Inductee 2009<ref>[https://www.twtd.co.uk/images/news/6429_g.jpg Hall of Fame inductees] TWTD</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of longest managerial reigns in association football]]

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Time on the Grass |last=Robson |first=Bobby |year=1982 |publisher=Arthur Barker |isbn=0-213-16845-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/timeongrass0000robs }}
* {{cite book |title=Bobby Robson: An Autobiography |last=Robson |first=Bobby |year=1990 |publisher=Hutchinson |isbn=0-09-174499-7}}
* {{cite book |title=Bobby Robson: An Englishman Abroad |last=Robson |first=Bobby |author2=Harris, Bob |year=1998 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=0-330-36985-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/myautobiographye0000robs }}
* {{cite book|last=Robson|first=Bobby|author2=Hayward, Paul|title=Farewell but not Goodbye|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|year=2005|isbn=0-340-82346-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs}}
* {{cite book |title=Newcastle&nbsp;– My Kind of Toon |last=Robson |first=Bobby |year=2008 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |isbn=978-0-340-97783-5}}
{{refend}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{NFT player|id=19808|name=Robson, Bobby|access-date=11 February 2011}} (''Career statistics'')

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Football Against the Enemy ''(chapter 11)'' |author=Kuper, Simon |year=1996 |publisher=Orion |isbn=0-7538-0523-5 }}
* {{cite book |title=High Noon: A Year at Barcelona |last=King |first=Jeff |year=1997 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=1-85227-633-9}}
* {{cite book |title=Sir Bobby Robson: Living the Game |last=Harris |first=Bob |year=2004 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |isbn=1-84188-244-5}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{Soccerbase manager|id=239}}
* [http://www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winning managers}}
{{UEFA Cup / Europa League winning managers}}
{{Eredivisie winning managers}}
{{Primeira Liga winning managers}}
{{FA Cup winning managers}}
{{Copa del Rey winning managers}}
{{Taça de Portugal winning managers}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{UEFA President's Award}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Newcastle United F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=England squads
|bg=white
|fg=#0B0B3F
|bordercolor=#0B0B3F
|list1=
{{England squad 1958 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad 1962 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{England squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Bobby Robson managerial positions
|list1=
{{Fulham F.C. managers}}
{{Ipswich Town F.C. managers}}
{{England national football team managers}}
{{PSV Eindhoven managers}}
{{Sporting Clube de Portugal managers}}
{{FC Porto managers}}
{{FC Barcelona managers}}
{{Newcastle United F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robson, Bobby}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:1958 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1962 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in England]]
[[Category:English expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Canada]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:England national football team managers]]
[[Category:Eredivisie managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Portugal]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Spain]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona managers]]
[[Category:FC Porto managers]]
[[Category:Association football people awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Footballers from County Durham]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Ipswich Town F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:La Liga managers]]
[[Category:Newcastle United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:People from Sacriston]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:PSV Eindhoven managers]]
[[Category:Sporting CP managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 managers]]
[[Category:United Soccer Association players]]
[[Category:Vancouver Royals players]]
[[Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Portugal]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:Deaf association football players]]
[[Category:English deaf people]]
[[Category:People from Langley Park, County Durham]]
[[Category:English knights]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century British autobiographers]]
[[Category:21st-century British autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]