Editing Bobby Robson (section)

== Managerial career ==

=== Early club management ===
In 1959, the then [[England national football team manager|England manager]] and [[the Football Association]] (FA) director of coaching, [[Walter Winterbottom]], suggested to Robson that he take a coaching course at [[Lilleshall Hall|Lilleshall]].<ref name="p33to35"/> He obtained coaching qualifications during his second spell at Fulham, and coached [[Oxford University A.F.C.]]<ref name="ODNB"/> Robson made his debut as a manager in January 1968 at his former club Fulham, against [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]], then in the [[Cheshire County League]], in the third round of the [[FA Cup]]. Fulham were struggling with 16 points from 24 matches.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/299 299]
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/299
 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table/1968-01-20
| title = Fulham 1967-1968 : English Division One (old) Table as at 20 January 1968
| publisher = Statto
| access-date = 17 November 2013
| url-status=dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015200303/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table/1968-01-20
| archive-date = 15 October 2014
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> Despite the acquisition of the young [[Malcolm Macdonald]], Robson could not save the club from relegation to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]],<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/66 66]
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/66
 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table
| title = Fulham 1967-1968 : English Division One (old) Table
| publisher = Statto
| access-date = 17 November 2013
| url-status=dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231820/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1967-1968/table
| archive-date = 2 December 2013
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> and he left them in November<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://www.fulhamfc.com/history/managers/bobby-robson
 | title = Bobby Robson
 | access-date =17 November 2013
 | publisher=Fulham F.C.}}</ref> with the club sitting eighth in the Second Division. He discovered he had been sacked not from the club itself, but from the headline "Robson sacked" on an ''[[London Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]'' placard outside [[Putney railway station|Putney station]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/67 67–68]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/67
 }}</ref>

=== Ipswich Town ===
[[File:Aankomst Ipswich Town op Schiphol Ipswichtrainer Bobby Robson, Bestanddeelnr 929-8929.jpg|thumb|275px|Robson traveling with Ipswich Town, 1978]]
Robson moved on to Ipswich Town in 1969 and it was there that he established his reputation as a successful manager, supported by the club chairman [[John Cobbold (businessman)|John Cobbold]] and then later by his brother [[Patrick Cobbold]]. He was offered the vacant job at the Suffolk club after a chance encounter with Town director Murray Sangster while scouting at [[Portman Road]] for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] manager [[Dave Sexton]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/72 72]
 | chapter = The Last Corinthians
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/72
 }}</ref> After four mediocre seasons, Robson led Ipswich to fourth place in the First Division and success in the [[Texaco Cup]] in the [[1972–73 in English football|1972–73]] season.<ref name=prideofanglia>{{cite web |url=http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?managerid=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216093746/http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?managerid=9 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |title=Bobby Robson |work=Pride of Anglia |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> In the following nine seasons, Ipswich finished lower than sixth place in the First Division only once, in the [[1977–78 in English football|1977–78]] season. However, that season was a success with a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the [[1978 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]].<ref>{{cite news
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321993.stm
 | title = 1978 – Osbourne's year
 | date = 10 May 2001
 | access-date =16 May 2007
 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> His reign at Ipswich lasted 13 years, during which time the club twice finished as League runners-up, and made regular appearances in European competitions, winning the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in [[1980–81 UEFA Cup|1981]] with a 5–4 [[Two-legged match|aggregate]] victory over Dutch side [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ 67 Alkmaar]].<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1980/overview/index.html
 |title=Ipswich thankful for Thijssen
 |date=2 January 2006
 |access-date=17 November 2013
 |publisher=UEFA
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006103635/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D1980/overview/index.html
 |archive-date= 6 October 2013}}</ref> About that team, Robson said: "We played with two strikers, no wingers, Eric Gates sitting off the front two, two semi-wide midfield players in Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen and Johnny Wark sitting in the holding role".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/bobby-robson-one-one | title=Bobby Robson: One-on-One | date= 31 January 2003  | access-date = 20 March 2019 | publisher = Four four two}}</ref> During his 13-year tenure, he brought in only 14 players from other clubs, most notably [[Allan Hunter (footballer)|Allan Hunter]], [[Bryan Hamilton]] and [[Paul Mariner]], relying instead on players developed through Ipswich's youth programmes,<ref name=tenfacts>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413054251/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml |archive-date=13 April 2005 |title=Sir Bobby : Ten Facts |publisher= BBC Tyne|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> including [[Terry Butcher]], [[George Burley]], [[John Wark]], [[Mick Mills]], [[Colin Viljoen]], [[Alan Brazil]], [[Trevor Whymark]], [[Brian Talbot]], [[Kevin Beattie]] and [[Eric Gates]], who all went on to play international football. His imports included Dutch players [[Frans Thijssen]] and [[Arnold Mühren]].<ref name="ODNB"/> Robson "was not a tactical genius" but he "showed a talent for developing new players, with his good interpersonal skills, caring attitude, hard work and enthusiasm helping them to achieve their best".<ref name="ODNB"/>

In 2002, in recognition of his achievements with the club, a life-size statue of Robson was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand of Ipswich Town's ground, Portman Road.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2130373.stm
 | title = Sir Bobby Robson statue unveiled
 | date = 16 July 2002
 | access-date =14 May 2007
 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 7 July 2006, Robson was named as honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold who had died in 1987.<ref name="president">
{{cite news
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/5156006.stm
 | title = Ipswich president role for Robson
 |work=BBC Sport
 | date = 6 July 2007
 | access-date =13 May 2007}}</ref>

=== England manager ===
Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him a job offer from the Football Association for the position of national coach in July 1982, and he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension and increased salary from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102 102]
 | chapter = A town awakes
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102
 }}</ref> On 7 July 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]], he succeeded [[Ron Greenwood]] as coach of the England national team,<ref name=espn/><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/31/sir-bobby-robson-obituary |title=Sir Bobby Robson | first=Brian | last=Glanville |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=31 July 2009|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> selecting former West Bromwich Albion teammate Don Howe as his chief coach.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m2j5ZKj993QC&q=robson+appointed+england+manager+%22don+howe%22&pg=PT84
| last = Robson
| title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
| date = 10 August 2006
| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
| isbn = 9781848946460
| access-date =4 February 2013}}</ref>

Robson's first match in charge saw immediate controversy, as he dropped [[Kevin Keegan]] for the match against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108 108]
 | chapter = Slings and arrows
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108
 }}</ref> On 21 September 1983, Robson suffered his only loss in the 28 qualifying matches he was to undertake as England manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamMgr/Mgr_Robson.html |title=Bobby Robson |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young |date=23 June 2012 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The defeat, again to Denmark, ultimately led to England's failure to qualify for the [[UEFA Euro 1984|1984 European Championships]]<ref name="euro record">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050404025043/http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 4 April 2005
 |title=England's Euro record
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> and resulted in Robson offering to resign in favour of [[Brian Clough]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110 110]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110
 }}</ref> The resignation was rejected by FA chairman [[Bert Millichip]] (primarily down to his and the FA's disdain for the controversial and outspoken Clough), and Robson went on to lead the England team to qualify for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]] in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20131118020841/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = 18 November 2013
 | title = The time is now
 | date = 24 May 2006
 | access-date = 17 November 2013
 | publisher = ESPN
 }}</ref>

England made a slow start at the World Cup, and captain [[Bryan Robson]] was injured with a recurrence of a dislocated shoulder.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |title=WORLD CUP 1986
 |work=web.ukonline.co.uk
 |access-date=17 June 2007
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501015338/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |archive-date=1 May 2007
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bobby Robson changed the team's tactics for the final match of the first round, selecting [[Peter Beardsley]] ahead of [[Mark Hateley]] as a strike partner for [[Gary Lineker]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121 121]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121
 }}</ref> The team won its next two matches, against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], 3–0, and qualified for the quarter-finals.<ref name=wc86>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851052.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Mexico 1986
| date = 4 May 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> England were defeated in the last eight by [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] with a brace of goals from [[Diego Maradona]], the infamous [[Hand of God goal|"Hand of God" goal]] and the "[[Goal of the Century]]" he scored five minutes later.<ref name=wc86/> Robson was unimpressed by Maradona's claim of divine intervention:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116 116]
 | chapter = A left hook
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116
 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|It wasn't the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it... That day, Maradona was diminished in my eyes forever.}}

Robson's England dropped only one point in qualifying for [[UEFA Euro 1988|Euro 1988]], which included an 8–0 victory over [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]].<ref name="euro record"/> However, this was followed by failure at the tournament itself, held in West Germany, where England were eliminated in the group stage. They finished bottom of their [[UEFA Euro 88#Group B|group]], succumbing to defeats against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]], the eventual winners, the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], and the eventual runners-up, the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406092625/http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=1988 European Championship
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> Robson was vilified by the British press, and after a draw in a friendly with [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in November 1988, one newspaper demanded, "In the name of Allah, go."<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/983995.stm
| title = English football's elder statesman
|work=BBC Sport
| date = 21 August 2000
| access-date =31 August 2007
}}</ref> Again Robson submitted his resignation, and again it was rejected by Millichip (again the FA's unwillingness to offer the job to Brian Clough is often cited as a reason).<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112 112]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112
 }}</ref>

Robson led England without conceding a goal through [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|the six-match qualification]] for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]] where they were one of six seeded teams.<ref name="italia 90">{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1990Finals.html
|title=Italy 1990 |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young
|date=27 May 2014 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> Again they were placed in a group with the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, with [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] the fourth side.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/wc90index.html
|title=World Cup 1990 – Match schedule
|work=Planet World Cup |publisher=Jan Alsos
|access-date=16 June 2007}}</ref> As in the 1986 World Cup, Robson was denied the service of his captain, Bryan Robson, who injured his [[achilles tendon]] which prevented him playing in the latter stages of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406221015/http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=Robbo ready for new challenge
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=16 August 2007
 |date=30 October 2003}}</ref> England topped their group, accumulating four points from their three matches.<ref name=italia90/> However, their progress was not without controversy. England changed formation from their traditional 4–4–2 to 5–3–2 incorporating a [[Sweeper (soccer)|sweeper]], with some sources suggesting this was due to player revolt after the 1–1 draw in the first match with the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3808127.stm
| title = Sven's toughest test?
| access-date =23 August 2007
| date = 16 June 2004
|first=Tom |last=Fordyce
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson denied this claim:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Zeroes to heroes
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132 132]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132
 }}</ref>{{blockquote|...I made the switch, not them. I had no intention of allowing [[Marco van Basten|van Basten]] and [[Ruud Gullit|Gullit]] to rip holes in us...}}
This was followed by victories over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] in the knock-out stages, to set up a semi-final with [[Germany national football team|West Germany]].<ref name=italia90>{{cite news
 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1923000/1923882.stm
 | title=Statistics: Italy 1990
 |work=BBC Sport
 | access-date=16 August 2007
 | date = 12 April 2002
}}</ref> England lost the match on a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]], after the score had been tied at 1–1 following [[extra time]].<ref name=wc90>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851148.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Italy 1990
| date = 27 April 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson said afterwards: "[N]ot a day goes by when [he] does not think about the semi-final and other choices [he] might have made."<ref name="espn"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/well-done-sir-bobby-1-2124122 |title=Well done Sir Bobby |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |date=11 December 2007|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> Robson was the second coach, after [[Alf Ramsey]], to take England to a World Cup semi-final, and the first coach to do so on foreign soil, an achievement not equalled until [[Gareth Southgate]]'s team reached the semi-finals of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | work = [[East Anglian Daily Times]] | title = Ramsey, Robson... Southgate? A proud record Ipswich Town fans will be happy to see scrubbed | date = 7 July 2018 | first = Stuart | last = Watson | access-date = 21 March 2018 | archive-date = 21 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190321115655/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Robson's final game in charge of England was the third-place play off against hosts [[Italy national football team|Italy]], which England lost 2–1. He then took on the role as manager of PSV Eindhoven, and [[Graham Taylor]] was announced as his successor.

=== European club management ===
Before the 1990 World Cup, the FA told Robson it would not renew his contract as England manager, so he moved to the Netherlands to coach [[PSV Eindhoven]],<ref name=espn/><ref name="Guardian"/> succeeding manager [[Guus Hiddink]], who had left the team after leading them to [[1987–88 European Cup|European Cup]] victory and four consecutive [[Eredivisie]] titles. PSV sought a manager capable of instilling discipline into a fractious squad, much as Hiddink had done previously.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kuper |first=Simon |title=Football against the enemy |publisher=Orion |location=London |year=1996 |isbn=0-7528-4877-1|pages =93}}</ref> Robson described the move as "a culture shock" but felt "a sense of adventure".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = On the road
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/146 146–47]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/146
 }}</ref> News of Robson's new position in the Netherlands became public before the start of the 1990 World Cup, leading to [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] stories impugning Robson's patriotism; he sued ''[[Today (UK newspaper)|Today]]'' for calling him a "traitor".<ref name="ODNB"/>

The Dutch penchant for tactical debate surprised Robson. In an interview with ''Voetbal International'', he lamented: "An English pro accepts the manager's decision. After every match here, the substitutes come and visit me."<ref>Kuper, p96</ref> Another of his challenges at PSV was handling the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian international]] [[Romário]]. Robson became frustrated with the Brazilian's work ethic, although admitted "in some matches he would be scintillating".<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148 148]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148
 }}</ref> Robson arranged showdown talks with Romário, with [[Frank Arnesen]], Robson's assistant, acting as a translator. The talks proved unsuccessful, with Romário unwilling to change his lifestyle.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148 148–150]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/148
 }}</ref> Despite this, PSV won the Eredivisie in both the [[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]] and [[1991–92 Eredivisie|1991–92]] seasons. However, the team did not make the progress expected by the board in European competitions and Robson was informed he would be leaving the club at the end of the 1991–92 season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/150 150–53]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/150
 }}</ref>

Robson moved to [[Sporting CP]] in July 1992, where his Portuguese [[Interpreter (communication)|interpreter]] was a young [[José Mourinho]]. Robson guided the club to a third-place finish in his first season in charge while admitting the club was in "a terrible state". He described the club's president as a "loose cannon" who frequently signed players without Robson's consent.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/153 153–54]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/153
 }}</ref> Robson was sacked in December 1993, with the club sitting at the top of the league table. Club president [[Sousa Cintra]] cited the club's early exit from the [[1993–94 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], at the hands of [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Casino Salzburg]], as the reason for his dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0,,10278~2109011,00.html
 |title=Sir Bobby Robson
 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C.
 |access-date=4 February 2013
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219052615/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Club/History/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10278~2109011%2C00.html
 |archive-date=19 February 2013}}</ref>

[[File:RobsonLeagueFinishes.svg|right|thumb|League finishes for clubs managed by Robson (* indicates Robson left the club before the end of the season)]]

Sporting CP's rivals Porto quickly hired Robson, with Mourinho appointed as his assistant manager. Living in the same apartment block at the time was another future Porto, Chelsea and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] manager, the young [[André Villas-Boas]], who, aged 16, introduced himself to Robson. Robson subsequently appointed Villas-Boas to work in the Porto observation department and helped him gain his UEFA "C" coaching badge in Scotland, despite him technically being ineligible as he was aged 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/130/645/9/index.html |title=Novice delighting in the Dragao dugout |publisher=FIFA |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=17 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224061346/https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/130/645/9/index.html|archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1864227.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216070704/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1864227.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2013 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |via=Highbeam Research |title=Crucial role of boy scout who is Mourinho's 'eyes and ears' |date=11 July 2004 |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Porto were in a poor state when Robson arrived and the average attendance had dwindled to 10,000.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/158 158]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/158
 }}</ref> The club promptly went on to beat Robson's former club, Sporting CP, in the [[Taça de Portugal]] final,<ref name=espn/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/The-Sir-Bobby-Robson-Collection-article99379.html |title=The Sir Bobby Robson Collection |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |access-date=17 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013050824/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/The-Sir-Bobby-Robson-Collection-article99379.html |archive-date=13 October 2013}}</ref> following that achievement with successive [[Primeira Liga|League]] titles in the [[1994–95 Primeira Divisão|1994–95]] and [[1995–96 Primeira Divisão|1995–96]] seasons.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=103
|title=Sporting Lisbon&nbsp;– Porto
|work=FootballDerbies.com |access-date=19 June 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Bobby Robson Cropped.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Sir Bobby Robson at the Republic of Ireland versus Slovakia match in [[Croke Park]], Dublin on 29 March 2007]]

Such was the impact of Robson at Porto, he became known to the locals as "Bobby Five-O" in honour of the number of matches Porto won 5–0,<ref name=porto/> and he signed a new contract with the club in 1995.<ref name=porto>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/160 160–61]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/160
 }}</ref> Robson had malignant [[melanoma]] and missed the first few months of the 1995–96 season. He still successfully led Porto in defence of their league title.<ref name=tactical/>

A phone call during the summer of 1996 from [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] vice-president [[Joan Gaspart]] to discuss [[Luís Figo]] resulted in an offer of employment with the Spanish club.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/168 168]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/168
 }}</ref> Robson took over in July 1996, where again his assistant was Mourinho; Robson had made Mourinho's move with him to the [[Camp Nou]] a condition of his employment.<ref name=tactical>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4475887.stm
|title=Tactical masters fight for glory
|work=BBC Sport
|date=26 April 2005
|access-date=15 June 2007
|first=Phil
|last=McNulty}}</ref> One of the key decisions Robson made during his brief tenure at Barcelona was the US$19.5&nbsp;million signing of [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]],<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2002/08/31/ronaldo_facts_reuters/
 |title       = Fast facts on Ronaldo
 |date        = 31 August 2002
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071103225524/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2002/08/31/ronaldo_facts_reuters/
 |archive-date = 3 November 2007
 |magazine    = Sports Illustrated
 |url-status  = dead
}}</ref> who was influential in a [[1996–97 FC Barcelona season|season]] when Barcelona won the [[1996–97 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]], [[1996 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]] and [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/historia/entrenadors/Robson.html
| title = Managers&nbsp;– Bobby Robson (1996–97)
| access-date =17 November 2013
| publisher=FC Barcelona
}}</ref> Robson himself was voted European Manager of the Year for 1996–97, while Ronaldo stated, "as a trainer without doubt [Robson] is one of the greatest in the world".<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2777333.stm
| title = Ronaldo praises Robson
| date = 25 February 2003
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref>

The 1997–98 season saw Robson moved "upstairs" to the general manager position, with [[Louis van Gaal]] taking over as manager,<ref name=espn/><ref name=Guardian21Sep09Memorial/> but Robson stayed in this position for only one season before returning to manage PSV on a short-term deal for the [[1998–99 in Dutch football|1998–99]] season.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/75031.stm
| title = Bobby Robson returns to PSV
|work=BBC Sport
| date = 6 April 1998
| access-date =16 August 2007
}}</ref> PSV missed out on the league title, finishing third behind [[Feyenoord]] and [[Willem II (football club)|Willem II]],<ref>{{Cite web
| url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned99.html
| access-date =4 February 2013
| title =Netherlands 1998/99
| publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
}}</ref> but Robson still led the club to victory in the [[Johan Cruyff Shield]] and also qualification for the [[UEFA Champions League]] on the last day of the season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/185 185]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/185
 }}</ref>

=== Return to England ===
After Robson's contract with PSV expired, he returned to England to take up a position in the Football Association's technical department.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/news/432906.stm
| title = Robson: Dream to manage Newcastle
|work=BBC Sport
| access-date =17 August 2007
| date = 30 August 1999
}}</ref> Following the resignation of [[Ruud Gullit]] as Newcastle United manager, Robson moved to St James' Park in September 1999.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/436390.stm
| title = Robson takes Newcastle hotseat
| date = 3 September 1999
| access-date =15 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson was disappointed with the club's opening salary offer, stating, "[I]t was miles below the going rate," but negotiated a one-year, £1&nbsp;million deal.<ref name=p190>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Going home
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/190 190]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/190
 }}</ref>

In Robson's first home match in charge, bottom-placed Newcastle faced second bottom Sheffield Wednesday, thrashing them 8–0. In his first season in charge, [[1999-2000 in English football|1999–2000]], Robson led the club to an 11th-place finish, with 14 wins from his 32 matches in charge.<ref name=p190/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng00.html|title=England 1999/2000|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=26 August 2007}}</ref> In late 2000, following the resignation of ex-''Magpies'' boss Kevin Keegan as England manager, the FA asked Newcastle club chairman [[Freddy Shepherd]] to permit Robson to take over in a part-time [[caretaker manager|caretaker]] capacity, but the request was refused.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66093481.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150328143711/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66093481.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date = 28 March 2015
| title = Football: FA Warned: Hands off our Bobby
|newspaper=Sunday Mirror |location=London |via=Highbeam Research
| date = 15 October 2000
| access-date =4 February 2013
|first=Brian |last=McNally}}</ref> Robson guided Newcastle from bottom of the [[Premier League]] to a fourth-place finish in the [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]] season.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fa2002.htm
|title=2001–02: F.A. Premier League
|work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The following season, Newcastle finished third, ensuring qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fa2003.htm
|title=2002–03: F.A. Premier League
|work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref>
However, Robson was unable to guide Newcastle through the Champions League qualifying rounds, and the club was dropped to participate in the [[2003–04 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] for the 2003–04 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/aug/29/newsstory.sport4 |title=Newcastle pay price of failure |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Michael |last=Walker |date= 29 August 2003|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> At the end of the [[2003-04 in English football|2003–04 season]], Newcastle finished fifth in the table, five points short of the Champions League qualifying fourth place but reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup before losing to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3685411.stm |title=Newcastle's Euro dream over|work=BBC Sport |access-date=4 February 2013| date = 6 May 2004}}</ref>

Robson held the Newcastle post until 30 August 2004, when he was dismissed by Freddy Shepherd, after a poor start to the Premier League season and alleged discontent in the dressing room.<ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3610042.stm
| title = Newcastle force Robson out
| date = 30 August 2004
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson's dismissal followed publication of his [[Source (journalism)#Speaking terms|off the record]] observation of his disappointment that only 5,000 fans stayed to see the traditional lap of honour made by the players at St James' Park at the end of the previous season.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/257 257]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/257
 }}</ref> However, he remains held in the highest esteem by some fans;<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/5957379/Sir-Bobby-Robson-Newcastles-saviour-and-inspiration-to-Alan-Shearer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/5957379/Sir-Bobby-Robson-Newcastles-saviour-and-inspiration-to-Alan-Shearer.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live
|title=Sir Bobby Robson: Newcastle's saviour and inspiration to Alan Shearer
|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London
|first = Henry
|last = Winter
|date = 2 August 2009
|access-date=4 February 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> he was granted the [[Freedom of the City]] of [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] on 2 March 2005.<ref name=free>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4309779.stm
|title=Sir Bobby receives city freedom
|work=BBC News
|date=2 March 2005
|access-date=10 June 2007}}</ref>

{{blockquote|What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It's not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It's a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father's hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.<br>{{align|right|– Robson<ref>{{cite news|title="It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging": What does NUFC mean to you? |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-robson-quote-tell-6260751 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=22 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522033937/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-bobby-robson-quote-tell-6260751 |archive-date=22 May 2014}}</ref>}}}}

Robson's second autobiography, entitled ''Bobby Robson: Farewell but not Goodbye'' was released in 2005.<ref>{{cite book|title=Farewell But Not Goodbye (Hardcover)
|id={{ASIN|0340823461|country=uk}}
}}</ref> The title is based on one of his quotes upon leaving the England job in 1990: "I'm here to say goodbye—maybe not goodbye but farewell."<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.nufc.com/html/bobby-quotes.html
| title = Newcastle United Football Club&nbsp;– Bobby Quotes (#16)
|work=NUFC.com
| access-date =27 May 2007
}}</ref> In the book, Robson was critical of Shepherd, claiming that while manager he was denied information regarding the players' contracts and transfer negotiations. He also criticised Shepherd and the club's deputy chairman [[Douglas Hall (businessman)|Douglas Hall]], for their focus on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous issues, such as the training ground, youth development and talent scouts.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Going home
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/195 195–197]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/195
 }}</ref> The club's training ground was later blamed by [[Graeme Souness]], Robson's successor, for a series of injuries to first team players.<ref>{{cite news
| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2366932/Owen-injury-blamed-on-training-pitch.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2366932/Owen-injury-blamed-on-training-pitch.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live
| title = Owen injury blamed on training pitch
|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London | date = 20 October 2005
| access-date =17 November 2013
| first=Rob
| last=Stewart}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Football consultant for Republic of Ireland and retirement ===
On 7 June 2005, Robson declined the invitation to become director of football of [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] because he wanted to stay in the Newcastle area.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4612251.stm
| title = Robson rejects approach by Hearts
| date = 7 June 2005
| access-date =15 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> On 13 January 2006, [[Steve Staunton]] was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, with Robson named in a support role as "international football consultant".<ref name="consultant">{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4610306.stm
| title = Republic appoint Staunton as boss
| date = 13 January 2006
| access-date =14 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson stepped down from his role of consultant on 17 November 2007 following the nation's final match in their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ireland-robson-idUKL154249520071115
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208094953/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ireland-robson-idUKL154249520071115
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 8 December 2015
| title = Robson ready to retire from pitch at 74
| date = 15 November 2007
| access-date =17 November 2013
| work=Reuters
| first=Mitch
| last=Phillips}}</ref> Robson was a former vice president of the [[League Managers Association]], a non-executive role.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.leaguemanagers.com/lma/structure-3.html
 |title=LMA Structure
 |access-date=2 November 2007
 |publisher=League Managers Association
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327225931/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/lma/structure-3.html
 |archive-date=27 March 2008}}</ref>