Ipswich Town legend Sir Bobby Robson has passed away after a long and brave battle against cancer.
Born in Sacriston in County Durham in February 1933, the fourth of five sons for Philip and Lilian Robson, the man who was to become Sir Bobby Robson began his footballing life turning out for local side Langley Park juniors.
An accomplished wing-half or inside forward, Robson's professional career spanned 20 years at Fulham (in two spells) and West Bromwich Albion in the Football League - making a total of 583 League appearances, scoring 133 goals. He also had a brief spell with Vancouver Royals.
Capped 20 times by England, scoring four goals, he was selected for squads for the 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals.
His first coaching job was at Vancouver in July 1967 and six months later he was appointed manager of Fulham. His stay at Craven Cottage was only 10 months but in January 1969, he was appointed Ipswich Town boss and he was to oversee the most successful period in the club's history.
Robson spent 13 years at Portman Road, establishing Town as one of the best and most attractive sides in England and in Europe. He lifted the FA Cup with Blues in 1978 and the UEFA Cup three years later.
He became the second Ipswich Town boss to be named England national team manager in the summer of 1982 - following in the footsteps of Sir Alf Ramsey - and took England to the World Cup Quarter-Finals in 1986 and the Semi-Finals four years later, losing in a penalty shoot-out to Germany.
After the finals he took charge of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, winning two Dutch League Championships, then followed successful spells at Sporting Lisbon and Porto, where he won three League titles before becoming manager at Barcelona in June 1996, steering the Spanish giants to European Cup-Winners' Cup glory in his time at the Nou Camp.
A return to PSV followed in 1998 and then in February 1999, he returned to his native North East to become manager of Newcastle United, the club he supported as a boy.
In his five years at St James' he became immensely popular with the home fans as he guided the club away from relegation battles and into the Champions' League.
He took on an advisory role to Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton in January 2006 and remained with the Irish for 18 months, his last job in football.
Awarded the CBE in 1990, Robson was knighted in June 2002 for his services to football. He was named an Honorary Freeman of Newcastle in 2005 and in July 2006, became Honorary President of Ipswich Town.
In December 2007, he received the lifetime achievement award at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and a year later was granted the Freedom of Ipswich and the Freedom of the City of Durham.
There will be tributes on the Club website through the day.
