The guv’nor
The former England manager, Sir Bobby Robson, talks to Toby Green about the Premiership, Italy and how football has dominated his life.
The title of arguably the greatest living England manager may not appear the most prestigious accolade amidst mixed opposition, but Sir Bobby Robson’s achievements are not to be sniffed at.
The achievements of the coalminer’s son are numerous: managing England to their best World Cup performance post-1966, capturing the UEFA and FA Cup with a home grown Ipswich team and being named European Manager of the Year in 1997 whilst managing at Barcelona. His period at Newcastle may have slightly tainted his reputation, but he remains a living legend in the English game.
I met the great man at a personal appearance at a new golf course in Oxfordshire only two weeks before being taken to hospital after feeling unwell during an Ipswich Town match. This was the latest in a string of health problems after it was revealed in May that he was suffering from cancer for the third time. At the time he did seem weak, but on the mend. However once engaged in a conversation about football the intensity and passion for the game in his eyes was clear to see.
I asked him whether he missed being so involved in the game he had lived with all his life. “Football was my work, football was my life and football was my love,” he said. “My mother told me that I was playing football since the age of seven months, although unfortunately for her I was still in her stomach at the time. But because it took over my life, one of my regrets was that I never had the time to do the other things I loved, such as golf. When I got the chance, that was my relaxation and my pleasure, although the way I play, my heartache as well!”
One of the old guard in English football, his career in Europe, managing PSV twice, Sporting Lisbon and Barca, showed his progressive attitude towards management. However he still feels strongly about the difference in lifestyles between today’s players and those of his generation (he played for Fulham, West Brom and was capped 20 times for England). “When I first started playing I used to travel down to Oxford to manage the University team, where I was paid two guineas an hour. Can you imagine any of today’s players doing that? Things have changed a lot and I just pretend to keep up with the modern world, although I’ll admit I have no idea what an iPod is.”
The modern world however is one that is still very much interested in Robson, and in January he was appointed the International Football Consultant for the Republic of Ireland national team, working with their new manager Steve Staunton.
His current relationship with his boyhood love, Newcastle United, is not quite as friendly. In their wisdom the event organisers had supplied a black and white ribbon to be cut by Robson, and he chuckled that it was “a delight to smash”. He doesn’t appear much more positive about their chances this season. “I think they’ll struggle,” was his honest opinion, “it won’t be easy at all. They’ve lost their twin strikers in Michael and Alan, and without them they’ll have no power.”
Although he believes the title race will go “right down to the wire”, he’s still betting on a familiar face to prevail. “As soon as the World Cup was over, it became clear that Chelsea were favourites for the title amongst the experts and I personally don’t believe that will change. However the Premiership is still extremely competitive. Chelsea are currently dominating, but the other three will be strong enough to take up the mantle.”
He was also clearly impressed with Italy’s performance in the World Cup, especially the efforts of the management team. “They got the players focused incredibly well, and didn’t let all the match-fixing furore infiltrate their mind. It was a great credit to the coach. Also the players did extremely well, and to win the World Cup whilst their domestic game is in turmoil was a great achievement.”
And with those words, he left. Despite ill health, his charisma and charm was such that he had various youngsters queuing up to get a photo taken with him. It cannot be long before a return to full health will bring further glories for the grandfather of English management.
