Wednesday, September 28, 2005 ESPNsoccernet: February 19, 4:37 PM UK
Manager Profile: Bryan Robson
Dale Johnson
Bryan Robson 'came home' in November 2004 when he was appointed as the new boss of West Bromwich Albion. And it marked the end of a long road back to the Premiership after his spell at Middlesbrough had come to an end in 2001.
Robson as a WBA player (PeterRobinson/Empics)
Many doubted his ability to make a success of the West Brom job, considering the way his time with Middlesbrough went horribly wrong.
The fans also felt Robson was a poor choice, and after a bad start under his stewardship they were chanting 'you don't know what you're doing'. At Christmas, they lost back-to-back games 4-0 and 5-0 and were rooted to the foot of the table.
But Robson re-wrote Premiership history to turn around the Baggies' fortunes. He got the team playing football, being more adventurous and, most of all, winning.
They were still bottom on the final day of the season but a home victory over Portsmouth, as Southampton, Norwich and Crystal Palace failed to do the same, meant they became the first side to be bottom at Christmas and stay in the division in the Premiership's history.
Robson's reputation had been rebuilt on the terraces and in the media, with many hailing him as the Manager of the Year ahead of David Moyes and Jose Mourinho.
But it turned sour again as Robson's massive investment in the playing squad did not bring improved results in 2005/06. The Baggies went down with just 30 points, eight adrift of Portsmouth in the first position of safety, and Robson was coming under pressure.
A failure to then produce a winning mentality in the Championship was always going to spell trouble. And the England legend was eventually given his marching orders on September 18, 2006.
It was at the Hawthorns where Robson began a playing career which saw him rise to be one of the greatest midfielders England has produced.
Robson joined the Baggies as an apprentice in 1974, making his league debut the following year against York City. Within five years he had been handed his first England cap against the Republic of Ireland.
He made more than 225 appearances for West Brom, scoring 46 goals, before he moved to Manchester United in October 1981 for a British record fee of £1.5million.
A skillful and energetic player, who was strong in the tackle, Robson was as dependable as any player in the game. 'Commitment and determination' will never describe another player so perfectly.
At United, Robson became key to their success, and without him they looked a different side. There is no doubt that he had a huge influence in reviving the club's fortunes.
Robson's talents reached a global stage in 1982. England qualified for the World Cup for the first time since they defended the crown in 1970. And he scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the finals when netting after just 27 seconds against France.
His reputation was growing, and later that year he would be handed the captain's armband for the first time, against Greece in Salonika. 'Captain Marvel' was here.
Back in domestic football, Robson bagged a brace as United won the 1983 FA Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion, and two years later he picked up a second winners' medal in the competition.
England again qualified for the World Cup in 1986 in Mexico, with Bryan Robson hitting a hat-trick as Turkey were demolished 8-0. He also scored in the return match at Wembley and netted against Finland as England topped their group unbeaten ahead of Northern Ireland.
But disaster struck for Robson in the run-up to the tournament as an injury meant he was forced to play in a shoulder harness. It was a huge blow for England, and after only one match of the finals it was clear he was struggling.
Robson dislocated his shoulder in the second group game against Morocco, bringing his tournament to a premature end.
Injuries were very much a factor of the star's playing career. By the time he hung up his boots the perception was that no part of his body had escaped without some degree of pain. There is no doubt he would have passed 100 international caps if he had suffered fewer fitness problems.
Robson grabbed another FA Cup final goal in 1990, against Crystal Palace, though United would need a replay to edge past the south London side and lift the trophy.
That came weeks before England flew to Italy for the World Cup, but once again injury would rob the player of the finals experience. He went off in the 65th minute of the second group game against the Netherlands and after missing the final group match against Egypt he was then forced to withdraw from the squad.
Robson retired from international football in 1992, winning the last of his 90 caps against Turkey. He scored 26 goals for his country, and wore the captain's armband 65 times.
He continued to win honours with United after his last appearance in the World Cup finals. The Cup Winners' Cup would follow in 1991, and he would also be part of the United side which won the inaugural Premiership title in 1993.
The final season of a superb Old Trafford career would be 1993/94, and Robson finished in style as United won the double.
He left the Red Devils as a true legend of the club and the game after playing more than 450 times and scoring 97 goals. He spent 12 years as the club's captain - a record at United.
Robson moved to Middlesbrough to become player-manager of the Division One side, returning to his native north-east.
Boro had big ambitions. The plan was to move from their dilapidated Ayresome Park to a new ground and bring Premiership football. They had a wealthy chairman in Steve Gibson who wanted a talismanic figure in charge - and in Robson he certainly found a man who would fit the bill.
The club won the First Division title in his first season at the helm, providing a fitting farewell to Ayresome Park and enabling the club to begin their first season in the Premiership in the plush surroundings of the Riverside Stadium.
Although Robson did bring a degree of success to Middlesbrough and provided many fond memories for the fans, he failed to pick up the club's first major silverware.
During his first two seasons as manager of Boro, Robbo combined the role with a coaching position within Terry Venables' England backroom stuff. Although he would quit that role when Venables' spell came to an end after Euro '96 the pair would be reunited.
Robson was handed a three-year contract extension in April 1996 as Boro secured a second season in the top flight, but the 1996/97 season was traumatic for everyone at the club and resulted in a controversial relegation back into the Football League.
Boro were in mid-table when the club chose not to send a side to play at Blackburn Rovers. The squad had been hit by a bug and Boro decided they could not field a side at Ewood Park - but they did not have the permission of the Premier League to pull out of the fixture.
Middlesbrough were fined and docked three points.
During the fitness problems in January of that season, the boss was even forced to make a return as a player at the age of 40.
Although Boro struggled in the league, Robson led the club to their first ever Cup final. But they failed to win the Coca-Cola Cup as a last-minute goal earned Leicester City a replay - and the Foxes then lifted the trophy at Hillsborough.
Middlesbrough also reached the FA Cup final in the same season - but by the time they walked out at Wembley relegation had been confirmed. They finished in 19th position, just two points behind Coventry City who survived courtesy of a late goal at Tottenham Hotspur.
It meant that the three points Boro had been docked for failing to travel to Blackburn had cost them their top flight status.
And to add to the pain, Boro then lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Robson guided Boro straight back into the Premiership in 1997/98, finishing second to Nottingham Forest. And they again reached the Coca-Cola Cup final, playing Chelsea once more but again they were beaten 2-0. The search for a major trophy went on for Boro and Robson.
Boro had a fine start to life back in the top tier of the game, and following the 2-1 win over Blackburn in October they sat third. Robson was subsequently awarded a new five-year contract and the club finished in ninth.
They consolidated in 1999/2000, finishing in 12th place, but the 2000/01 campaign saw Robson's tenure come to a painful end.
In November, the loss to Leicester was their seventh consecutive defeat. Robson was a forlorn figure, he looked to have the troubles of the whole world on his shoulders in post-match interviews and Boro had to act.
In December they brought in Venables as head coach. Although Robson remained as manager this was in no more than name as El Tel masterminded the club's revival from relegation certainties to a finish of 14th. Robson's inevitable departure from the Riverside was confirmed in June 2001.
After seven years at the Teesside club, Robson took a break from management. In truth, as happens with many managers, his time at the club had come to its natural end.
Despite taking a rest from the game he cannot have expected to have been snubbed for so long. His reputation took a battering in the final year of his Boro career - and much of his hard work in transforming Boro into a club worthy of gracing the Premiership was forgotten.
He became known as a spending manager, due to the heavy financial support of the chairman, who failed to bring trophies. But, in real terms when taking into account players sold, Robson did not actually spend a great deal.
And Boro fans will never forget his ability to attract players of the calibre of Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
It would be October 2003 before he even came close to landing a new job, when Nigeria confirmed he had been appointed to spearhead their African Nations Cup campaign. But the move was eventually scuppered due to huge opposition to a foreign coach leading the Nigerian national team.
But in November he did return, landing the job as manager of beleaguered First Division side Bradford City.
If he arrived at Middlesbrough with an embarrassment of managerial riches, he could not have been more deprived at Valley Parade. Bradford, in tatters after overspending during their Premiership daydream, eventually slipped into administration and Robson could not save them from relegation. In truth it was an impossible job.
He left the club at the end of the 2003/04 campaign after winning just seven of 28 matches - although fans will always remember his first match when the Bantams came back from two down to beat Millwall 3-2 with an injury time winner.
This time his sabbatical would be brief although the destination of his managerial return was certainly unexpected. After everyone had put their house on Glenn Hoddle being named as the successor to Gary Megson at West Brom, talks between the two parties broke down and Robson was eventually unveiled.
In a strange twist of fate, Robson's first game in charge of the club he served so well as a player was against Middlesbrough.
Although Boro won the game 2-1, manager Steve McClaren was quick to praise Robson for his work at the Riverside.
McClaren said: 'Bryan did a terrific job at Boro and built a platform on which we could build. When I came in I was surprised by the structure that was there and it just made my job easier. He started it and I'm just taking things on.'
Robson signed a 12-month rolling contract at The Hawthorns after succeeding Megson, and brought England Under-20 coach Nigel Pearson in as his number two. And he said: 'My record stands up - we (Middlesbrough) stayed in the Premiership for five seasons and got to three cup finals - although unfortunately didn't win any.
'But I feel that's an achievement and if I can achieve what I achieved at Middlesbrough I'll be delighted. I think the squad are quite capable of staying up. It's going to take a lot of hard work because everyone is trying to achieve the same thing - to stay up.'
No-one could have imagined the drama which was to follow in the remainder of 2004/05.
Thought the 2005/06 season began slowly, they climbed back up the table in October with a memorable home victory over Arsenal.
The good times didn't last though, and West Brom were relegated with Birmingham and Sunderland at the end of the season. Although they managed to hold onto their top players like Curtis Davies and Zoltan Gera, West Brom struggled early on in the Championship and parted company with Robson in September 2006.
