Editing Bobby Robson (section)

=== 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>