Bobby Robson (18th February 1933 - 31st July 2009) was an international footballer who represented England 20 times scoring 4 goals. His first cap was against France on 27th November 1957 at 24 years old, and his last was vs Switzerland on 9th May 1962 aged 29. Robson, born on 18th February 1933, in Langley Park, County Durham, has a FA Legacy Number of 765 and played as a Inside Right,
Right Half and
Midfielder for his country.
Notes:
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 and scored 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.
France (FR) on 27th November 1957 aged 24 years, 9 months, 9 days
Switzerland (FR) on 9th May 1962 aged 29 years, 2 months, 19 days
0
0
NIR, 1 - 1, 22nd Nov 1961 (HC) 
POR, 2 - 0, 25th Oct 1961 (WCQ) 
WAL, 1 - 1, 14th Oct 1961 (HC) 
LUX, 4 - 1, 28th Sep 1961 (WCQ) 
ITA, 3 - 2, 24th May 1961 (FR) 
MEX, 8 - 0, 10th May 1961 (FR) 
SCO, 9 - 3, 15th Apr 1961 (HC) 
ESP, 4 - 2, 26th Oct 1960 (FR) 
HUN, 0 - 2, 22nd May 1960 (FR) 
AUT, 2 - 2, 15th Jun 1958 (WCF) 
BRA, 0 - 0, 11th Jun 1958 (WCF) 
URS, 2 - 2, 8th Jun 1958 (WCF)