Robbo

by Bryan Robson

Bryan Robson is widely remembered as a fearless and inspirational player and captain, both for club and country, whose presence lifted team-mates and intimidated opponents. At his peak, he was acknowledged as the most complete midfield player in the country, and played at the highest level despite a series of devastating injuries. He began his playing career at West Bromwich Albion, then moved to Manchester United in 1981 for a then record British transfer fee of GBP1.5 million. He soon became captain, and enjoyed regular Cup success, eventually winning the Championship. He also won 90 caps for England, 65 of them as captain. His autobiography reveals a fascinating insight into his days with the England and United camps and characters such as Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker, Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson. He puts the record straight on the 'drink culture' that Ferguson sought to stamp out at United, and describes his pain when he discovered he was surplus to the manager's requirements. He candidly reflects on the highs and lows of his football life, and discusses incidents on the pitch as well as some of the clashes that have happened behind the scenes.

Genres: Biography, Football, Sports, Nonfiction, Autobiography

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2007

About the author

Bryan Robson OBE (born 11 January 1957) is an English former football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He is the former manager of Sheffield United after being relieved of his first team duties in February 2008. The following month, Robson returned to Manchester United as an ambassador for the club.

Born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Robson began his playing career at West Bromwich Albion, before moving on to Manchester United, whom he captained to three FA Cups and a European Cup Winners' Cup. He also won two FA Premiership winners medals. Towards the end of his playing career he moved into management as player-manager with Middlesbrough. Robson had a good goal-scoring record, tackled and passed well and was also a good header of the ball.[citation needed] He represented England on 90 occasions, making him the sixth most capped England player of all-time, and has the eleventh highest goalscoring tally with 26. Robson captained his country 65 times; only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright have captained England on more occasions. Robson is also known by the nicknames 'Robbo' and 'Captain Marvel'.

Robson began his management career with Middlesbrough in 1994, although he did not retire from playing until 1997. In seven years as Middlesbrough manager, he guided them to three Wembley finals, which they all lost, and earned them promotion to the Premier League on two occasions. 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 Football League Championship, and the latter lasting less than a year and seeing his expensively-assembled side fail to challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Reviews

[Neil Arrowsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

As autobiographies go, this was good. Bryan Robson was a player I loved watching when I really began to get into football in the late eighties. And to read about his early days when I was too young to understand football was interesting. I suppose I just always thought of Bryan Robson as Captain Marvel at United wearing the legendary number 7 shirt.
As a manager I genuinely think he could have been a success at a higher level club. Boro and Albion with all due respect were never going to fulfil his managerial ambitions, but as with many managers, once you fail at West Brom in the Premier League (and all of them have), you’re not going to get looked at by any clubs other than those that struggle at the foot of the Premier League.
As I was reading this book I needed to be aware that it was written in 2006 and society has changed immensely in the years that have followed. I say this for a specific reason. Bryan writes about two players in particular on several occasions. Paul Gascoigne and Paul Merson. Both had significant and very similar challenges with addiction. Gascoigne is written about with compassion and empathy, and Merson is written about as almost the scum of the earth. The first story about Merson I agree deserved the reaction that Bryan gave, but let’s be honest, Gascoigne also made some vile mistakes much worse than Merson. And yet the contrast is so different. Gascoigne is portrayed as the victim of alcohol abuse and it wasn’t his fault and Merson was depicted, especially when Robson managed him at Boro as a player that deserved his troubles because it was all self inflicted. Maybe Robson felt more for Gascoigne because they played together for England. What I will say though is that as I read this book 16 years after it was published, would Bryan still think like that about Merson? I’d like to think he wouldn’t. It will also be interesting to see if Merson makes any mention of his time with Robson at Middlesbrough in his book that is based on his addictions. I am yet to read that book, but it is on wish list and May now be moved up the priority list.

[Paul Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robbo is the greatest box to box MF

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about a warrior of a midfielder a true legend