View source for Stewart Robson

{{Short description|English retired association footballer (born 1964)}}
{{For|people with a similar name|Stuart Robson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Stewart Robson
| image               = 
| fullname            = Stewart Ian Robson
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1964|11|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Billericay]], England
| position            = [[Midfielder]]
| height              = 5 ft 11 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=388 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref>
| youthyears1         = 1978–1981
| youthclubs1         = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| years1 = 1981–1987 | years2 = 1987–1991 | years3 =1991–1995
| clubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] | clubs2 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] | clubs3 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.isfa.org.uk/about/news.php?go=fullnews&id=30
 |title       = 7. GREAT NAMES FROM THE PAST :: ISFA
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071010172917/http://www.isfa.org.uk/about/news.php?go=fullnews&id=30
 |archive-date = 10 October 2007
}}</ref>
| caps1 = 150 | goals1 = 16 | caps2 = 69 | goals2 = 4 | caps3 = 57 | goals3 = 3 |  totalcaps = 276 | totalgoals = 23
| nationalyears1 = 1981–1982 | nationalteam1 = [[England national under-18 football team|England Youth]]    | nationalcaps1 = 10  | nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 1981      | nationalteam2 = [[England national under-20 football team|England U20]] | nationalcaps2 = 6  | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3      = 1984–1988
| nationalteam3       = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-u21-intres86.html
 |title=England – U-21 International Results 1986–1995 – Details 
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125164210/http://rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u21-intres86.html 
 |archive-date=25 January 2010 
}}</ref>
| nationalcaps3= 8 | nationalgoals3 = 2
| manageryears1       = 2003
| managerclubs1       = [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] (caretaker)}}

'''Stewart Ian Robson''' (born 6 November 1964) is an English former [[association football|football]] player and TV and radio football pundit. He played for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] where he was their player of the season in 1988, and [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. After his footballing career ended he took on a role as a TV and radio pundit for [[Arsenal TV]] until 2012,<ref name="ArsTV">{{cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2013/02/20/3766656/arsenal-legend-bob-wilson-brands-stewart-robson-bitter-for | title=Arsenal legend Bob Wilson brands Stewart Robson 'bitter' for Wenger criticism | publisher=Goal | date=13 February 2013 | access-date=8 June 2013 | author=Davie,Chris}}</ref> [[ESPN]], [[TalkSPORT]]<ref name=ts>{{cite web | url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2012/Nov/stewart-robson-manchester-united-arsenal-verdict.aspx | title=Former Gunner grilled | publisher=manutd.com | date=1 November 2012 | access-date=8 June 2013 | author=Coppack, Nick}}</ref> and [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]].<ref name=espn1>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/nov/27/gary-neville-punditry-sky-bbc | title=Gary Neville's punditry is the best, but others need to raise their game | work=The Guardian | date=27 November 2012 | access-date=8 June 2013 | author=Cox, Michael}}</ref> He is currently ESPN's lead color commentator for [[FA Cup]] and [[EFL Cup]] working alongside [[Jon Champion]] and [[Martin Tyler]] (world feed), and [[Bundesliga]] with [[Derek Rae]], who he also provides commentary alongside in the FIFA/EA FC video game series since 2021.

==Career==
===Arsenal===
Born in [[Billericay]], [[Essex]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/stewart-robson/|title=Stewart Robson|website=ESPN Media Zone.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/stewart-robson-24329/|title=Stewart Robson|website=11v11.com}}</ref> he was educated at [[Alleyn Court Prep School]] in [[Westcliff on Sea]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alleyn-court.co.uk/alumni/Famous-Alumni.php|title=Alleyn Court Alumni|website=Alleyn Court.co.uk}}</ref> and [[Brentwood School (England)|Brentwood School]]. Robson joined [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] as a schoolboy in 1978. He made his debut soon after his 17th birthday, on 5 December 1981 against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], and became a regular player in the Arsenal side under manager [[Terry Neill]] and his eventual successor [[Don Howe]].<ref name=AFC>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/stewart-robson|title=Stewart Robson|website=Arsenal.com|date=21 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/robson-shows-a-thirst-for-learning-6357124.html|title=Robson shows a thirst for learning|website=Evening Standard|location=London|date=13 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talksport.com/football/former-arsenal-midfielder-stewart-robson-pays-tribute-innovator-don-howe-151223178886%3Famp|title=Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson pays tribute to 'innovator' Don Howe|website=Talksport.com}}</ref>

Robson showed great promise as a young footballer, both in his versatility (although he usually played in [[midfield]], he was equally adept in [[defence (sport)|defence]] as [[Defender (association football)|full back]] or centre back) and his competitiveness; he was an enthusiastic runner and tackler. He was the Arsenal's 1985 Player of the Year, and made the England senior squad. Then an injury in the cup tie against [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham]] on 25 January 1986 wrecked his season. He was out for over two months with [[groin]] trouble, and missed his England call up, and that probably cost him a place in the [[1986 FIFA World Cup squads|World Cup]], and was on the stand by-list.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Official Arsenal Handbook 1986-87|year=1986|pages=22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-04|title=englandfootballonline|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/cmpwc/CmpWC1986Squad.html}}</ref>

After the arrival of [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]] as manager in May 1986, Robson found himself out of the Arsenal side, only playing five matches of the [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]] season, before losing his place to [[Steve Williams (midfielder)|Steve Williams]]. Leaving in January 1987, he had played 186 matches for Arsenal, scoring 21 goals.<ref name=AFC />

===West Ham United===
He was sold to West Ham United in January 1987 for £700,000.<ref name=whustats>{{cite web | url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=563&united=Stewart_Robson | title=Stewart Robson West Ham Statistics | publisher=westhamstats.info | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> His time with West Ham was plagued with injuries, particularly to his [[pelvis]]. Manager [[John Lyall]] later revealed that Robson had been on the treatment table at [[Highbury Stadium|Highbury]] when he had signed him and he was rarely fully fit for the Hammers.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eofQ_6gjZK0C&q=stewart+robson+west+ham+john+lyall&pg=PT84 | title=Hammers in the Heart: A Lifetime of Supporting West Ham | access-date=8 June 2013 | author=May, Pete| date=3 May 2013 | publisher=Random House | isbn=9781780574509 }}</ref>
His first West Ham game was on 24 January 1987 in a 3–1 away win at Coventry City.<ref name=whustats/> He remained a regular in the Hammers' first team for two and a half years, and [[West Ham United F.C.#Hammer of the Year|Player of the Year]] for 1988. However, lost his place after they were relegated in 1989, playing only eight league games in the following two years following a succession of injuries to his pelvic area. His last game was a 6–1 [[FA Cup]] defeat of [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]] on 16 January 1991.<ref name=whustats/>

===Coventry City===
In March 1991, [[Terry Butcher]] signed Robson for [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on a free transfer.<ref name=whustats/> He helped them stay in the First Division and become founder members of the [[Premier League|FA Premier League]] in [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]]. Robson went on to make 57 league appearances for the Sky Blues, but once again, injury ruined his spell at the club; he suffered a bad knee injury playing his old club Arsenal at the start of the [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]] season. In the summer of 1995, Robson announced his retirement citing a history of injuries; he had just spent the entire season sidelined due to injury.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Coaching career==
Robson later joined [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] as a youth coach, eventually moving up the ranks to become reserve team manager and then first-team coach until leaving in December 2001. In 2003, he spent a short spell as first-team coach and as caretaker manager at [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] between 25 March 2003 and 18 April 2003.<ref name="manstats">{{cite web | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=1853 | title=Stewart Robson -Managerial statistics | publisher=soccerbase.com | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> In 2004, he joined [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] as technical director of football.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/3724569.stm | title=Rushden bring in Robson | publisher=BBC Sport | date=18 May 2004 | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>

Robson also played cricket for Coventry and for North Warwickshire.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/212/212248/212248.html
|title=Stewart Robson's CricketArchive profile}}</ref>

==Media career==
Robson has teamed up with [[Martin Tyler]] as the commentary duo for the non-UK international feed of the FA Cup and the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cup-provides-the-occasion-commentators-come-to-the-party-20100516-v6cf.html?skin=text-only | title=Cup provides the occasion, commentators come to the party | publisher=theage.au | date=27 May 2010 | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> He worked for Arsenal TV as co-commentator.<ref name=ArsTV/><ref>{{cite web|title=TV Online: Stewart Robson Talking Tactics|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/38265/tv-online-stewart-robson-talking-tactics|publisher=arsenal.com|access-date=17 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025164521/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/38265/tv-online-stewart-robson-talking-tactics|archive-date=25 October 2011}}</ref> He commentated for [[BT Sport]] for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. He has also appeared on [[Absolute Radio]]'s Rock'n'Roll Football alongside [[Jim Proudfoot]]. Robson is a regular contributor on the football podcast released by ''[[The Times]]'' in conjunction with their weekly football supplement The Game.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/game-podcast/article3722457.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326061531/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/game-podcast/article3722457.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 March 2013 | title=the game podcast: Does football have a problem with drugs? | work=[[The Times]]|location=London | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> He has also presented on [[TalkSPORT]].<ref name=ts/> He also works for [[BT Sport]] as a co-commentator for UEFA Champions League, [[UEFA Europa League]], [[Bundesliga]], and [[Serie A]].<ref name=espn1/> For the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2016]], Robson partnered with [[Jon Champion]] and with [[Ian Darke]] on [[Euro 2020]] for [[ESPN]]'s coverage in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/19/espn-announces-world-cup-tv-commentator-assignments-for-june-20-26/ | title=ESPN Announces World Cup TV Commentator Assignments |publisher=worldsoccertalk.com| access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> He now serves as the lead color commentator for [[FA Cup]] and [[English Football League|EFL]] matches on ESPN alongside Champion and Tyler. He also commentates on [[La Liga]] and [[Bundesliga]] for ESPN with [[Rob Palmer (commentator)|Rob Palmer]] and [[Derek Rae]].

Robson has been consistently critical of former Arsenal manager [[Arsène Wenger]].<ref>"[http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/10/25/3477656/former-arsenal-midfielder-stewart-robson-hints-at-rift Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson hints at rift between Wenger and Bould]", ''Goal'', 25 October 2012</ref><ref>"[https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/21502920 Robson blames Wenger for barren run]", ''BBC Sport, 19 February 2013</ref><ref>"[https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/dont-trust-arsene-wenger-to-make-marquee-signings-8649579.html Don't trust Arsene Wenger to make marquee signings]", ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 7 June 2013</ref><ref>"The same mistakes happen time and time again. If you are a good coach, mistakes don't keep happening." From "[https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26700387 Arsene Wenger: Arsenal loss to Chelsea was 'my fault']", [[BBC Sport]], 23 March 2014</ref><ref>"[https://www.90min.com/posts/4856894-former-arsenal-player-stewart-robson-claims-arsene-wenger-should-be-replaced-by-massimiliano-allegri Former Arsenal Player Stewart Robson Claims Arsene Wenger Should Be Replaced by Massimiliano Allegri]", ''90min'', 12 April 2017</ref><ref>"[https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/hes-so-arrogant-its-untrue-former-arsenal-star-launches-scathing-attack-on-arsene-wenger-36660318.html Former Arsenal star launches scathing attack on Arsene Wenger]", ''[[Irish Independent]]'', 1 March 2018</ref> Robson also regularly appears on [[ESPN FC]], which airs on [[ESPN]] in the US and on [[BT Sport]] in the UK.

In 2021, Robson became the primary co-commentator of the [[EA Sports]] video games, ''[[FIFA 22]], [[FIFA 23]]'' and [[EA Sports FC 24|''EA FC 24'']].

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|8 June 2013}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|align=left|25 March 2003
|align=left|18 April 2003
{{WDL|3|1|0|2}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|3|1|0|2}}
|}

==Honours==
*[[Arsenal Player of the Season]]: [[1984–85 Arsenal F.C. season|1984−85]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Maidment |first=Jem |title=The Official Arsenal Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Hamlyn (publisher)|Hamlyn]] |year=2006 |isbn=9780600615491 |location=London |pages=148 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)|Football League First Division Team of the Year]]: [[1985–86 Football League#First Division|1985–86]]<ref name=Lynch146>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=146}}</ref>
*West Ham United FC Player of the Year: 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/club/history/records-and-honours/hammer-of-the-year|title=Records and Honours|website=WHUFC.com}}</ref>
*Coventry City FC Player of the Year: 1992<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10269~1030484,00.html |title=Coventry City Hall of Fame |access-date=2009-10-17 |publisher=Coventry City Football Club Official Site |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722023422/http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10269~1030484%2C00.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skybluebarmy.co.uk/players/halloffame |title=SkyBlueBarmy – Coventry City Players Hall of Fame |access-date=2016-01-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706075343/http://www.skybluebarmy.co.uk/players/halloffame |archive-date= 6 July 2015 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=21645 Stewart Robson – West Ham United FC – Football-Heroes.net]
*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=21644 Stewart Robson – Arsenal FC – Football-Heroes.net]

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{1985–86 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Arsenal F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{West Ham United F.C. Hammer of the Year}}
{{Coventry City F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Southend United F.C. managers}}
{{TalkSport}}
{{ESPN}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robson, Stewart}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Billericay]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:People educated at Alleyn Court School]]
[[Category:People educated at Brentwood School, Essex]]
[[Category:English association football commentators]]
[[Category:English radio presenters]]
[[Category:The Times people]]
[[Category:Southend United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Southend United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]