Sir Bobby Robson 1933 - 2009

Sir Bobby Robson 1933-2009

Sir Bobby Robson departed a saddened football world last Friday, leaving a gaping hole in the game. Sir Bobby left a massive print in our lives, and will be remembered by all as a man who made time for everyone. He was the perfect gentleman, and men like him are an absolute rarity in the modern game.

Tributes to Sir Bobby flew in from all over the world, and the respectful man will have a special place reserved on the touchline of a pitch, somewhere amongst the very best in heaven. His passion and love for the game was felt by the world, and it rubbed off on many key figures. He changed our game forever and introduced a whole new concept of man management. His endless patience, calm nature and fantastic tactical eye made him one of the best managers around, and managers of his calibre are hard to come by, if not impossible.

Fortunately for us, Robson was one of the few who had the mettle to travel and ply his trade abroad, and the continent of Europe was blessed to have his talent grace pitch sides. A true gentle man, a tactical genius, and an ultimate fighter, Sir Bobby was an example to everyone, and certainly will always be missed. His talent reached all corners of the world, and fortunately for us his ways did not stop at football. Despite having been diagnosed with cancer, Sir Bobby kept on fighting, and did not ever show any signs of giving up. He used his situation as a positive thing, and set up The Sir Bobby Robson foundation in order to raise money for the early detection of cancer. That was the type of man he was, always willing to help others and bring the best out of people. There wasn’t a bad bone in the gentleman, and everyone should use Sir Bobby as the perfect example. A man who never could say no, and a man who would never give up. His sheer determination was a blessing for everyone around him, and his presence served to lift populations wherever he went.
Sir Bobby was respected by the world, and Friday 31st July will always be remembered as the day football stopped in its tracks. The great man had departed us, and for once our busy world was still. Rivalries are forgotten, hatchets are buried, as the world unites to give a great man the send off he deserves.

As a testament to his special attitude towards life, one needs not look far to find evidence of his beliefs and his optimistic character. After being diagnosed with cancer, Sir Bobby simply said “I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute." Words of a true hero. His dignity carried him around everywhere, and even in his last public appearance his work never stopped as on the 26th of July he attended a match between England and the West Germany team that defeated them in the Italia 1990 semi final, a game which Sir Bobby overlook as manager of the Three Lions. He was hailed as England’s best ever manager.

No words can comfort his loved ones, but thousands have sent in their own personal memories of the great man:

“Bobby’s passing is a very sad loss to the game” – Sir Alex Ferguson

“He was someone who was extremely well liked by everyone” – Denis Law

“Sir Bobby was a wonderful man, a real gentleman” – Fabio Capello

“He will be sadly missed by everyone, not just by people in the football world but from all walks of life” – Alan Shearer

“He was a great player and manager in his own right, but as a person he was just fantastic - he always had time for everyone” – Bryan Robson

“Football has lost one of its' true greats” – Steve Bruce

“Quite simply Sir Bobby Robson was 'Mr. Football'.” – Niall Quinn

“He was a wonderful ambassador for football and he will be greatly missed by everyone in the game." – David Moyes

“I admired him on so many levels and for so many reasons” – Roy Hodgson

“He was like a father figure to me and I am going to miss him” – Kieron Dyer

“He has been a great ambassador for football in general and I pay my respects to him. He is a big loss for us” – Gianfranco Zola

Goodbye, but not Farwell, Sir Bobby.