Football legend Sir Bobby Robson dies

July 31, 2009 9:06 AM

Football legend Sir Bobby Robson dies, following a long battle with cancer. Further tributes via the Guardian. Donate to his foundation via here.
posted by Webbster (25 comments total)

You might want to put his name in the blurb, not just the headline.

Oh, and:

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posted by sacre_bleu at 9:12 AM on July 31, 2009

(apologies, I should have mentioned who in the description as well as the title)

Farewell but not goodbye, Sir Bobby Robson.
posted by Webbster at 9:14 AM on July 31, 2009

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posted by mr.marx at 9:21 AM on July 31, 2009

One of the greats. I have Sky Sports on and they're doing a great job covering this.
posted by Zambrano at 9:27 AM on July 31, 2009

"In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson." - Alex Ferguson

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posted by fire&wings at 9:32 AM on July 31, 2009

The very few times I met him he was always very kind, and generous with his time. He had a rough time with the press as England manager, but seemed to blossom when he was out of that particularly nasty spotlight.

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posted by Nick Verstayne at 9:35 AM on July 31, 2009

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posted by kendrak at 9:37 AM on July 31, 2009

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posted by ob at 9:38 AM on July 31, 2009

A very sad day for English football.

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posted by VicNebulous at 9:47 AM on July 31, 2009

Fantastic feller, achieved at every level player and manager - including in Europe which is rare as hen's teeth for an Englishman. Am listening to the Test and Graham Taylor came in at lunch to talk about his experiences with Sir Bobby - the enthusiasm he shared when Taylor was just starting out in management. Pleased to hear he was well enough to make the match for his charity foundation at the weekend, played in front of a 50,000 crowd.
posted by Abiezer at 9:49 AM on July 31, 2009 [1 favorite]

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posted by dopamine at 10:04 AM on July 31, 2009

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And I think you mean soccer.
posted by kbanas at 10:25 AM on July 31, 2009

Ok, I don't know why I said the bit about soccer. That was completely rude and unnecessary.

Just a .
posted by kbanas at 10:33 AM on July 31, 2009

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posted by PaulZ at 10:41 AM on July 31, 2009

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From a Scotland fan.
posted by the cuban at 11:34 AM on July 31, 2009

And another Scotland fan - cheers bonnie lad.
posted by MajorDundee at 11:35 AM on July 31, 2009

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posted by doogyrev at 11:55 AM on July 31, 2009

And I think you mean soccer.


Given his ability to mangle the English language*, Sir Bobby probably called it 'the "kick the round thing" game'.

RIP Sir. One of the greatest ever English managers, and by all accounts a great man.

(*A gift for malapropisms and an ability to confuse names became an endearing part of his legend. "Hello, Bobby," he once greeted his England captain, Bryan Robson. "I'm Bryan," the skipper replied. "You're Bobby." What, the young Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi was asked by a journalist, did his teammates call him? "Shola," he replied. And how, the disappointed but still hopeful interlocutor asked, did his manager address him? "He calls me Carl Cort." [another young Newcastle player] The Guardian)
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:06 PM on July 31, 2009

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posted by Smart Dalek at 12:34 PM on July 31, 2009

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posted by plep at 1:41 PM on July 31, 2009

Watching the tributes on the TV showing his career, really makes me think how pointless it all is
posted by MontySwan at 2:09 PM on July 31, 2009

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posted by sien at 7:28 PM on July 31, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson's tribute, "In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson." says all you need to know about Sir Bobby Robson. Football, like all sports, may be "pointless", but being a man isn't.


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posted by vac2003 at 3:04 AM on August 1, 2009

A proper gent by all accounts. A sad loss for English football and football in general.

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posted by MrMustard at 7:49 AM on August 1, 2009

Sir Bobby Robson received a UEFA Lifetime Achievement Award last weekend in front of a full St. James Park, the ground of his beloved team, Newcastle United.

Nessum Dorma is a powerful enough song anyway but I was profoundly moved watching a man days from death, surrounded by 50,000+ who cherished him, listening to the soundtrack to the pinnacle of his managerial career, Italia '90. A beautiful moment.

Watch it here.

If you are wondering, the crowd are singing '...walking along, singin' a song. Walking in BOBBY ROBSON Wonderland'!

A wonderful man to the last. RIP.
posted by pots at 1:31 PM on August 1, 2009 [1 favorite]