76 Facts About Bryan Robson

Bryan Robson was born on 11 January 1957 and is an English football manager and former player.

Bryan Robson began his career with West Bromwich Albion in 1972, where he amassed over 200 appearances and was club captain, before moving to Manchester United in 1981, where he became the longest-serving captain in the club's history.

Bryan Robson won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, one Football League Cup, two FA Charity Shields and a European Cup Winners' Cup during his time there.

Bryan Robson represented England on 90 occasions between 1980 and 1991, making him at the time the fifth-most capped England player.

Bryan Robson played for England at the 1982,1986 and 1990 World Cups, and at Euro 1988.

Bryan Robson captained his country 65 times; only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright have captained England on more occasions.

Bryan Robson began his management career as a player-manager with Middlesbrough in 1994, retiring from playing in 1997.

Bryan Robson 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.

On 23 September 2009, Bryan Robson was appointed manager of the Thailand national team.

On 1 July 2011, Bryan Robson was appointed "Global Ambassador" at Manchester United.

Bryan Robson was born in Northlands, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, to Brian, a long distance lorry-driver, and Maureen Bryan Robson.

Bryan Robson was the second of four children, after sister Susan and ahead of younger brothers Justin and Gary.

Bryan Robson was brought up in Witton Gilbert until he was six, when the family moved to nearby Chester-le-Street, the town where he was born.

Bryan Robson attended Birtley South Secondary Modern School, and later, Lord Lawson of Beamish comprehensive school, where he competed for the school in athletics and football.

Bryan Robson was captain of both his school football team and the Washington and District team.

Bryan Robson faced stiff competition for midfield places, not least from player-manager Johnny Giles, and was utilised by Giles in various positions, including centre-half, left-back and midfield.

Two months later, Bryan Robson made his comeback in a reserve game at The Hawthorns, but the original break was refractured in a challenge with Stoke City's Denis Smith.

Bryan Robson returned to the side under new boss Ron Atkinson, whom Robson described as "a down-to-earth, fair-minded, regular bloke".

Bryan Robson played a major part in Albion finishing third in Division One, their highest league placing for more than 20 years, and reaching the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

Bryan Robson ended his first season at United with 32 games and five goals for a United side who finished third in the league.

Bryan Robson tore his ankle ligaments during the 1983 League Cup semi-final victory over Arsenal, meaning that he missed the final, which United lost to Liverpool.

Bryan Robson missed both legs of the semi-final defeat by Juventus due to a hamstring injury, but while in Turin for the second leg was given permission by United to speak to Juve regarding a proposed transfer.

Bryan Robson's injury meant that he missed several crucial late season games as United's title challenge slipped away and they finished fourth, with Liverpool becoming champions for the third successive season and 15th time overall.

Bryan Robson captained the club to another FA Cup triumph, this time over Everton, where a Norman Whiteside goal in extra time denied their opponents the chance of a unique treble, as they had already won the league title and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Bryan Robson and United began the following season in fine form with ten successive victories which suggested the championship could be on its way back to Old Trafford for the first time since 1967.

The new manager had almost completely overhauled the squad within three years, but Bryan Robson remained firmly part of his plans.

In 1990, Bryan Robson and United finally got their hands on another major trophy after five years of trying.

Bryan Robson missed their League Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest through injury and his first-team chances were starting to look increasingly numbered as he faced competition from other players within the United squad and the press reported that Ferguson was hoping to sign a new, younger midfielder, although no such addition took place in 1992.

Bryan Robson still captained the club in most of his first-team appearances, but Steve Bruce was captaining the side when Bryan Robson was absent.

Bryan Robson was dropped from the squad for the FA Cup final, a decision which manager Ferguson later admitted was one of the hardest of his career, opting to select the more flexible Sharpe and McClair as the outfield substitutes.

Bryan Robson had played 461 times for them in all competitions, scoring 99 goals, and was widely regarded as one of their greatest ever players.

Bryan Robson's 13-year spell at Manchester United came to an end after nearly 500 appearances and 100 goals in May 1994 when he accepted the role of player-manager at Middlesbrough.

Bryan Robson was not included in new manager Glenn Hoddle's coaching staff.

Bryan Robson played his final game as a player on 1 January 1997, in a Premier League game against Arsenal at Highbury 10 days before his 40th birthday.

Bryan Robson claimed in his autobiography that he knew it was the right time to retire as his whole body ached for two weeks afterwards trying to keep up with the livewires Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright.

Bryan Robson was selected for the England under-21s for the first time in March 1977, but was withdrawn from the squad by his club West Bromwich Albion, who needed him for a league match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Bryan Robson was in the record books for 20 years thanks to a goal scored against France in England's opening game of the World Cup at Estadio San Mames, home of Athletic Bilbao.

Bryan Robson personally played well for England, particularly with a fine individual goal against eventual champions the Netherlands, but was unable to prevent them from going out in the first phase of the competition as England lost all three of their group games.

Bryan Robson continued his international career until 1991, helping England to reach the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Bryan Robson was picked by both Bobby Bryan Robson and Tony Adams in their England dream teams, in their respective autobiographies of all the best players they had worked or played with.

Adams said additionally that Bryan Robson had a "terrific football brain" and had exceptional awareness and anticipation; often intercepting or knowing where the ball would land ahead of other players.

Paul Gascoigne stated in his 2004 book Gazza: My Story that Bryan Robson was the best footballer he had ever shared a pitch with and the best player of his generation.

Bryan Robson's final game for England was a European Championship qualifier played against Turkey in October 1991.

Bryan Robson was quick, fiercely competitive and brave, and possessed high levels of stamina.

Bryan Robson tackled, passed well, and was a good header of the ball.

Bryan Robson oversaw Boro's final season at Ayresome Park before relocation to the new 30,000-seat Riverside Stadium on the banks of the River Tees.

Bryan Robson was assisted by Viv Anderson, another former Manchester United and England player.

This, coupled with the excellent cup runs, saw Bryan Robson voted Premier League Manager of the Month for March 1997.

Boro would remain in the Premier League for the next 11 seasons, with Bryan Robson remaining as manager for three of those seasons.

Bryan Robson left the club "by mutual consent" in June 2001, having failed to bring the club higher than ninth in the league, or to bring them any silverware.

Bryan Robson's successor was Steve McClaren, the Manchester United assistant manager.

In November 2003 Bryan Robson was set to become Nigeria's national coach, but the appointment was blocked by the Nigerian sports minister due to doubts that Bryan Robson's wage demands could be met.

Later that month, Bryan Robson did make his football comeback more than two years after leaving Middlesbrough.

Bryan Robson accepted the offer to manage Division One strugglers Bradford City.

Bryan Robson was the subject of derisory chants from Albion supporters during the game, a complete contrast to his status as a club hero when he had taken to the field as a player.

Bryan Robson left the club "by mutual consent" on 18 September 2006, following a disappointing start to the season with The Baggies in 9th place in the Championship with only three wins from their first eight games.

Bryan Robson was interested in becoming the England under-21 team's full-time manager, but the job went instead to Stuart Pearce on a part-time basis.

On 22 May 2007, it was announced at a press conference that Bryan Robson would be the new manager of Sheffield United, following the resignation of Neil Warnock.

Bryan Robson was assisted by Brian Kidd, who had been assistant manager at Manchester United during Robson's final three seasons there.

Bryan Robson has since expressed his disappointment at not having the funds he was expecting to help rebuild the team.

In March 2008,14 years after he had last played for them, Bryan Robson returned to Manchester United to work as an ambassador, for an initial period of 12 months.

Bryan Robson worked alongside Sir Bobby Charlton to help United 'promote its commercial and charitable aims'.

On 23 September 2009, Bryan Robson agreed to become coach of the Thailand national team in his first foray into international football management.

Bryan Robson was contracted to manage the team through to the 2014 World Cup.

In December 2010, Bryan Robson failed to bring Thailand past the Group A of the 2010 AFF Championship after managing only two draws against Laos and Malaysia and losing to Indonesia.

Bryan Robson resigned as manager on 8 June 2011, and has since returned to his role as an Official Club Ambassador for Manchester United.

Bryan Robson has been married to his wife Denise since 2 June 1979.

In 2000, Bryan Robson reportedly had an affair with Sky Sports reporter Clare Tomlinson.

On 16 March 2011, it was revealed that Bryan Robson had undergone surgery in Bangkok on 3 March 2011 for throat cancer.

Bryan Robson was the subject of the television programme This Is Your Life in the edition aired on 23 January 1985, at just 12 days after his 28th birthday he was one of the show's youngest ever special guests.

Bryan Robson has appeared in a number of advertisements, including an appearance in Carlsberg's 2006 "Best Pub Side" television advert, where he starred alongside other former England players.

Bryan Robson's autobiography, entitled Robbo: My Autobiography was released in May 2006.

In March 2010, The Daily Telegraph published an article claiming that retired England footballer Steve McMahon and Bryan Robson had used their celebrity status to encourage investors to purchase Green belt land plots in Hounslow with a very limited chance of return.

On 18 July 2011, on an episode of the Channel 4 television programme Dispatches entitled "How to Buy a Football Club", Bryan Robson was secretly filmed by reporters during an undercover investigation.

Bryan Robson was awarded the OBE in the January 1990 New Year Honours.

Bryan Robson was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a 2004 poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.