Manager Info

• Sir Robert William Robson

• England Manager: 1982 - 1990

• Born: 18th February 1933, Sacriston, County Durham

• Died: 31st July 2009, County Durham

• View Playing Profile
• Robert William Robson was born in Sacriston, County Durham and signed professionally for Fulham in 1950 playing as an inside forward. He played 152 times for Fulham scoring 68 goals before making a £25,000 club record move to West Bromwich Albion in 1956. He was soon made club captain and made 239 appearances scoring 56 goals before returning to Fulham in 1962. During his time at WBA he was capped 20 times, scoring 4 times (twice on debut).
  In 1967, he accepted a player-manager role with Vancouver Royals which proved difficult and short-lived as Fulham asked him to become manager in January 1968 but he couldn't save them from relegation from the First Division. He joined Ipswich Town in 1969 where he managed for 13 years, in which Ipswich won the FA Cup, finished as runners-up in the league twice and won the UEFA Cup in 1981.
  He succeeded Ron Greenwood as England manager after the 1982 World Cup and despite only ever losing one major tournament qualifying match (to Denmark) missed out on the European Finals in 1984. He attempted to resign his position in favour of Brian Clough but the FA rejected his resignation and he successfully qualified England to another 3 major tournaments. The "Hand of God" knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup and despite an impressive qualifying campaign for Euro '88 (dropping only one point), England were disappointing in the final tournament, losing all three games. His vilification in the English press once again prompted his resignation but it was again denied. His contract was renewed until the end of the World Cup 1990 which England duly qualified for, without conceding a goal. A semi-final (ultimately fourth-place) finish was to come, losing out to Germany on penalties. Robson left his position as the most successful manager behind Alf Ramsey.
  Life after England was considerably easier and he, arguably, became the most successful English club manager on the continent. Stints at PSV Eindhoven (twice), Sporting Clube de Portugal, Porto, Barcelona and Newcastle United brought him two Dutch League titles, two Portuguese League titles with Porto (with one Jose Mourinho as assistant manager), European Cup Winner's Cup with Barcelona (along with European Manager of the Year 1997). His final managerial position was with Newcastle United from 1999 to 2004.
  Robson died from lung cancer in July 2009.