Mark Robins

Lore & Background

Robins began his career with Manchester United. He scored a goal against Nottingham Forest in a 1989–90 FA Cup tie that has been credited with 'saving' manager Alex Ferguson's job. He played for Norwich City, Leicester City, Reading, Manchester City, Walsall, Rotherham United, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Copenhagen, Ourense, Panionios, and Burton Albion. As a manager, he has managed Rotherham United, Barnsley, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Scunthorpe United, and Stoke City.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell on the Recreation Ground as Tolaj lined up for his Aldershot debut. He had been released by Brighton without a senior appearance, and manager Tommy Widdrington had needed convincing to take a chance on him. Within minutes, he scored a brace in a 5–2 win over Oxford City, silencing any doubts. Later that season, on 4 November, he faced League Two side Swindon Town in the FA Cup proper. With the scoreline swinging wildly, Tolaj scored twice in a 7–4 victory, a performance that announced his return to the EFL radar. At Port Vale, on 7 September 2024, he scored a goal and provided two assists in a 4–1 win at Newport County, earning a place in the EFL League Two Team of the Week. By April 2025, he had scored two goals and secured an assist in a 3–2 win at Walsall to claim the EFL Player of the Week award, following it up with another brace in a 5–0 win over Bromley. He was named League Two Player of the Month for April, with pundit Don Goodman crediting him for helping the team secure automatic promotion. At Plymouth Argyle, after a red card in a 3–0 loss to Northampton Town on 29 November, he scored a hat-trick in his next league game, a 5–1 win at Doncaster Rovers, after which he targeted 30 goals for the season. On 21 February, he scored a brace in a 5–2 home win over Cardiff City, while providing strike partner Aribim Pepple with two assists. He finished the 2025–26 season with 21 goals in 35 games for Plymouth, earning a place on the League One Team of the Season.

Reader's Guide

Robins is best known for his goal for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest in the 1990 FA Cup third round, which helped save Alex Ferguson's job. He scored a hat-trick for Norwich City against Oldham Athletic in 1992, the first English player to score a Premier League hat-trick away from home. He won the EFL Trophy and League Two play-offs with Coventry City, and later led them to promotion to the Championship as League One champions. He left Coventry in November 2024 and became manager of Stoke City in January 2025.

Did You Know?

• Robins scored the winning goal in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final replay for Manchester United against Oldham Athletic.
• He scored a hat-trick for Norwich City against Oldham Athletic in November 1992, the first English player to score a Premier League hat-trick away from home.
• Robins was not in the Manchester United squad for the 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final and did not receive a winner's medal.
• Manchester United lost the 1991 European Super Cup to Red Star Belgrade; Robins was not involved.
• Robins led Coventry City to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2023–24 for the first time since 1987.