Sir Bobby Robson
Newcastle United Boss
Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson celebrates his 70th birthday on Tuesday.
Widely regarded as one of football's greatest figureheads, Robson has dedicated 54 years to the game.
His career has taken him from scoring goals for Fulham, Uefa Cup glory as Ipswich manager to the bitter-sweet role of guiding England through two World Cup tournaments. Robson played up front for Fulham and West Brom and earned 20 caps for England. He has seen plenty of changes in the game, but admits his era cannot be compared to today's football standards. "A good game today is way ahead of one 20 or 30 years ago," he said. "The pace, power, fitness levels, technique - you never saw shots and headers that you do now."
When his playing days were over Robson found that management was his forte. After a spell in charge of Fulham, Robson took up the reigns at Ipswich and it was there that his management career took off. He brought silverware to the unfashionable Suffolk club - the 1978 FA Cup and 1981 Uefa Cup - and twice came close to the leading them to the title. In 1982 Robson jumped at the chance to take charge of England and spent eight rollercoaster years leading his country. It was at the 1986 World Cup finals that his career was touched by Argentina's Diego Maradona, whose controversial "hand of God" goal helped to knock England out of the quarter-finals. "I'm still unhappy about it because he robbed us so I'll never forgive him," said Robson.
"But he is arguably the best player the world has ever produced. "He was phenomenal, mis-shaped, but what a footballer, absolutely fabulous." There was more trauma for Robson four years later as he watched his side miss out on a place in the final after losing to West Germany on penalties. "It still hurts," he admits. "I'll never forget it and I don't think I'll ever get over it. "We would probably have won the final against Argentina, we were so, so near." Robson stepped down from the England post and sought new challenges abroad with PSV Eindhoven (twice), Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona. Robson returned to the North East in 1999 to take up the reins at the club he supported as a boy - Newcastle.
He took over a club second bottom of the Premiership and has turned them into championship contenders.
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