Bryan Robson

Verified Timeline

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

On 7 November 1981, Robson scored his first goal for Manchester United in a commanding 5–1 victory over Sunderland at Roker Park. His leadership was most evident during the 1983 FA Cup run. In the final replay against Brighton, with the score tied 2–2, Robson scored two goals to level the match before handing the penalty to Arnold Muhren to secure a 4–0 win and his first trophy as captain. He became only the second Englishman to lift the FA Cup for United, following Charlie Roberts in 1909. Despite missing crucial late-season games due to injury in 1984, which saw Liverpool claim the title, Robson extended his contract, committing to a seven-year deal that would keep him at the club until at least 1991.

Reader's Guide

Robson moved to United for a British record transfer fee of £1.5 million on 1 October 1981. The record fee set by Robson was not broken for six years, when Liverpool paid £1.9 million for Newcastle striker Peter Beardsley in the summer of 1987. Robson made his United debut on 7 October 1981 in a 1–0 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. His league debut for his new club came three days later, in a goalless draw against Manchester City at Maine Road. Robson scored his first goal for United on 7 November 1981 in a 5–1 win over Sunderland at Roker Park. He ended his first season at United with 32 games and five goals for a United side who finished third in the league. In the 1983 FA Cup final replay, Robson scored twice, and Arnold Muhren converted a penalty to seal a 4–0 victory, enabling Robson to lift his first trophy as United captain.

Did You Know?

• Robson captained England 65 times; only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright have captained England more often.
• His British record transfer fee of £1.5 million in 1981 was not broken for six years.
• Robson was voted the greatest ever Manchester United player in August 2011 in a poll of the club's former players.