Bobby Robson: biography, football career

In the history of modern football, there are not so many cases when a football player who achieved world fame would be able to fully realize himself and in the coaching field. Often successful players turn out to be rather mediocre coaches. And great coaches over the years of their playing career do not grab stars from the sky. One of those who managed to refute this theory is the British legend - Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, an excellent football player and a great coach. A man who became a real icon of football for a demanding British fan.

Childhood of Bobby Robson

The usual, average English family of Philip and Lillian Robson was distinguished only by the number of children. There were five of them in the family, and all were boys. The Robson family lived in the small town of Sacriston, Darash County. It was there that on February 13, 1933 Robert William Robson appeared as the fourth child in the family - the future legend of not only English, but also world football.

Imagine an English man who is not keen on football, it's simply impossible. That's the father of Bobby Robson, Philip, was a passionate admirer of the club Newcastle United. On the day off he collected his sons and went by bus to the home stadium of Newcastle, in St. James Park. While watching the game of his favorite team, little Bobby had his own football idols. They became the speakers on the position of drawn forward Jekki Milburn and Len Shackleton. Subsequently, this position on the football field will become native to Bobby Robson for many years of football career.

Football career

After graduating from school, Bobby Robson waited for the usual work of an electrician. On football, there was almost no time left. We had to train either in the evening or on weekends. But even despite such a complicated schedule, Bobby Robson managed to get into the professional football club "Fulham". At that time he turned 17 years old.

Six full seasons spent Bobby in the position of a striker for the football club "Fulham". During this time, he played 152 games, scoring at the gate opponents 68 goals.

Record contract

It is not known how Robson's career would have developed as a player if FC Fulham had not flown to the second division. Bobby at that time was 23, and to spend the best years of his career in the lower leagues, he was not going to. In addition, over the years of playing in the "Fulham" the player has an excellent game reputation. There was no shortage of offers from other English clubs.

As a result, Bobby Robson chooses the club "West Bromwich Albion" (BBA). The transfer fee was 25,000 pounds sterling, which at that time was the record sum paid by the WBA for the player.

Playing career of a football player

For the WBA Robson played six seasons. These periods were the most successful in the playing career of a football player. Especially successful was the season of 1957-1958, in which Bobby Robson won the title of the best scorer of the league, scoring 24 goals. In all, during the years of his performance for the WBA, Robson spent 239 games, scoring 56 goals. At the same time, the footballer gets to the note of the coach of the national team of England. For his team Robson had 20 matches, scoring 24 goals. In his active participation in 2 World Championships, in 1958 and 1962. Not every football player can boast of such achievements.

At the age of 29, English football player Robson returns to his first professional club - Fulham. The return of his pupil to the London club was worth 20,000 pounds sterling. By that time, Robson had finished his career as a player in the national team, concentrating on appearances for his native club. Five years spent at the end of a career, were less successful in the game plan.

Stably getting into the main lineup, Robson could not show high results. Beginning to tell the age and consequences of the injuries suffered. Scoring in the last five seasons with just 9 goals, Robson decides to retire a professional football player. True, immediately followed by a tempting offer from the Canadian club "Vancouver Royals", but the level of North American football at that time could hardly be considered seriously. Having played overseas for only one season, Bobby Robson finally ended up with football as a player in action.

The first steps in the coaching field

Even when he was acting, Bobby Robson passed the coaching courses. By his own admission, after the end of the playing career, Robson's main desire was to stay in big football. And here in January 1968, the disaster "Fulham" invites to the role of coach his former star. Sir Bobby Robson takes the club at the moment when it is at the bottom of the standings. The miracle did not happen, and "Fulham" flies to the second division.

The club's management is setting Robson the task of returning the team to the top division. However, by November 1968, the club took only the eighth place, practically not claiming a promotion in the class. With Robson leave, and he learns of his resignation from the newspapers.

The first coaching successes

Really becoming Robson as a coach occurred in "Ispwich". In 1968, Bobby Robson headed this club, which was difficult to rank among the leaders of English football. The first four seasons did not bring much fame to Ispuću and Robson. And in 1972 the coach leads his club to the 4th place in the Championship of England and the victory in the prestigious Tehaso Cup. Later, the results of Robson's work as a trainer began to appear. Over the past 9 seasons, Ispwich finished twice the second and three times third in the Championship of England. Also in the asset Robson as a coach victory in the FA Cup, where "Ispitch" was stronger than London's "Arsenal." In the 1980-1981 season, the team took second place in the English league, simultaneously loudly declaring itself in Europe. Provincial English club becomes the owner of the UEFA Cup, beating in the final duel Dutch "Alkmaar".

What was the difference between coach Robson and many of his colleagues in the coaching department? "Ispitch" did not have a huge financial reserve, and the rate was made for their own pupils. For the time spent on the coaching bench of Ispovich, Robson raised 10 players for the England national team. In August 1982, the club management took an unprecedented step, offering the coach a contract for 10 years. But Bobby Robson refused such a seductive offer. In the future, he had the opportunity to lead the national team of England.

Coach of England

The unsuccessful performance at the 1982 World Cup of the English team led to the resignation of coach Ron Greenwood. The main candidate for the role of the next coach was Bobby Robson, who showed consistently high results with Ispwich. Again, the first pancake is lumpy. Qualifying tournament for the 1984 European Championship is proving to be a failure for the English team. But she is already following the qualifying cycle perfectly. England squad goes into the final of the 1986 World Championships. In Mexico, the affairs of Bobby Robson's wards were going well. The team successfully passed the group stage, at the stage of the 1/8 finals, Paraguay beat. And then there was a famous match with the Argentines. The goal, scored by Maradona, sent the English home.

The England team led by Robson performed at the European Championship in 1968 and reached the semifinals at the 1990 World Cup . After this speech, Robson decided to return to club coaching.

And again the club

A coach with such a reputation could easily find a new club. In 1990, Bobby Robson headed the Dutch "Eindhoven" and twice within two years leads him to the championship. Then followed three seasons in Portugal - a year in Sporting and two in Porto, and with this team were again won two championships.

Coach of Barcelona

The real peak of the coaching career for Bobby Robson was two seasons, held in Barcelona. He received at his disposal a great team with the strongest football player of the world - Ronaldo. Barcelona already in the first season under the guidance of Robson wins the Cup and Super Cup of Spain, becomes the owner of the Cup Winners Cup, wins silver medals in the Championship of Spain. At the end of the season Robson receives the prize as the best coach of Europe. Next season, he is already starting as the CEO of Barcelona. But only one year is enough to understand that he is still ready to be an acting coach. Should return to "Eindhoven", where the former coach of "Barcelona" helps the club win the Super Cup of the Netherlands. In 1999, the coach returns to England and heads Newcastle. It is this team that becomes the last in the coaching career of Bobby Robson.

That was an English footballer and coach, in 1990, for his services to English football, he received the knighthood. In 2003, he was introduced to the English Football Hall of Fame for his outstanding coaching activities. On July 31, 2009, Sir Bobby Robson disappeared, he died of lung cancer at the age of 76. However, this great man left a deep mark in the history of football.

The only thing I wanted to say at the end: the younger generation has someone to be proud of and with whom to take an example!