Bobby Robson

Sir Robert William Robson (known as Bobby Robson) is a football manager and former football player. He is currently manager of Newcastle United and previously managed the English national football team.

Robson was born in Sacriston, County Durham on February 18 1933. During his career he has managed Fulham, Ipswich Town, Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and PSV Eindhoven.

Currently Robson is regarded as the grandfather of English managers - but a sprightly one. He has a coaching CV as impressive as any in world football.

A former England international full-back, he began managerial life in the dug-out at Fulham before entering a blissful union with Ipswich Town in 1969. After 13 years, including 2 seasons as league championship runners-up, an FA Cup, and a Uefa Cup later, he answered the call of his country by succeeding Ron Greenwood as national coach.

A mixed eight-year reign ended in glorious failure at the 1990 World Cup finals (when England reached the semi-finals), since when he has coached PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands (twice), Sporting Lisbon and Porto of Portugal and Spain's Barcelona to great success. But it is only now that the affable Geordie with the charming penchant for forgetting his players' names has landed his dream job--that of reviving the club he worshipped as a child.

He was knighted in 2002 for services to football.