Bryan Robson

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Lore & Background

Robson represented England 90 times between 1980 and 1991, making him at the time the fifth-most capped England player. His goalscoring tally of 26 placed him eighth on the list at the time. He played for England at the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups, and at Euro 1988. Robson captained his country 65 times; only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright have captained England more often. Robson began his management career as a player-manager with Middlesbrough in 1994, retiring from playing in 1997. In seven years as Middlesbrough manager, he guided them to three Wembley finals, which were all lost, and earned them promotion to the Premier League twice. Between 1994 and 1996, he also served as assistant coach to England manager Terry Venables, which included Euro 96. He later returned to West Bromwich Albion for two years as manager, helping them become the first top division team in 14 years to avoid relegation after being bottom of the league table on Christmas Day. Less successful have been his short-lived spells as manager of Bradford City and Sheffield United, the former lasting barely six months and ending in relegation from what is now the EFL Championship, and the latter lasting less than a year and seeing his expensively-assembled side fail to challenge for promotion to the Premier League. Robson was manager of the Thailand national team from 2009 to 2011. He is currently an ambassador for Manchester United.

In Their Own Story

Robson's international career began in February 1980 when he earned his first full England cap. He went on to represent England at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he scored twice against France in the group stage. He also played at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and the 1990 World Cup in Italy, as well as Euro 1988 in West Germany. Across 90 appearances, he scored 26 goals, making him the fifth-most capped England player and eighth-highest scorer at the time of his final cap in 1991. He captained England 65 times, a tally bettered only by Bobby Moore and Billy Wright.

Reader's Guide

Robson was born in Northlands, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, to Brian, a long distance lorry-driver, and Maureen Robson. He was the second of four children, after sister Susan and ahead of younger brothers Justin and Gary (also footballers). Robson was brought up in Witton Gilbert until he was six, when the family moved to nearby Chester-le-Street, the town where he was born. As a boy, he supported Newcastle United; his childhood hero was Newcastle forward Wyn Davies. A keen footballer from a young age, he joined the local Cub Scout group purely so that he could play for their football team. Robson attended Birtley South Secondary Modern School, and later, Lord Lawson of Beamish comprehensive school, where he competed for the school in athletics and football. He was captain of both his school football team and the Washington and District team. As a teenager, he had trials with Burnley, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion. Robson was in the final academic year of pupils who still had the option of finishing education at the age of 15, and in the summer of 1972, he accepted Albion manager Don Howe's offer of a two-year apprenticeship, worth a wage of £5 per week in the first year and £8 per week in the second year. He made his first team debut away at York City on 12 April 1975 at the age of 18, helping Albion to a 3–1 victory. Robson moved to United for a British record transfer fee of £1.5 million on 1 October 1981 and signed the contract on the Old Trafford pitch two days later before a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made his United debut on 7 October 1981 in a 1–0 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. Robson scored twice in the 1983 FA Cup final replay, but declined the chance to become the first player in 30 years to score an FA Cup final hat-trick, instead allowing regular penalty taker Arnold Muhren to convert a spot-kick to seal a 4–0 victory and enable Robson to lift his first trophy as United captain.

Did You Know?

• Robson was nicknamed "Captain Marvel".
• He captained England 65 times; only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright have captained England more often.
• Robson scored his first professional hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Ipswich Town on 16 March 1977.
• He was voted the greatest ever Manchester United player in August 2011 in a poll of the club's former players.