At a glance
- Robson’s bond between Newcastle and Barcelona
- His success and his character
- Impact on today’s game
Newcastle United travel to Barcelona this week in the Champions League Round of 16. This will be the seventh meeting between the two clubs and the deepest stage in a European competition at which they have faced each other.
While the two clubs differ in many ways, they share one legendary figure: Sir Bobby Robson. One year at the Catalonia club as their manager and a five-year stint at Tyneside were enough to demonstrate his brilliance as a football manager, giving the fans plenty to celebrate.
Here is a look at the man who went from the steps of the Camp Nou to the Gallowgate, becoming a legend managing both teams.
Replacing a legend
Iconic Dutch coach Johan Cruyff left Barcelona in 1996 after five successful years at the club. He managed 284 games and led the Spanish giants to their first European Cup.
In search of someone to take the reins of what the legendary manager had built, Barcelona vice-president Joan Gaspart contacted Porto boss Bobby Robson. The Portuguese side faced a difficult period before the English manager’s arrival, but he won back-to-back league titles in his two seasons at the Estadio do Dragao.
Barcelona believed he could put them back on target after finishing third in the 1995-96 season. The Catalans had several world-class players at their disposal, such as Laurent Blanc, Hristo Stoichkov, Luis Figo, and new summer signing Ronaldo Nazario from PSV Eindhoven.
The Blaugrana wouldn’t end the season as La Liga winners, but did claim three trophies. The Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup were all placed in the club’s trophy cabinet.
Ronaldo enjoyed the best season of his career, scoring 34 goals and recording 10 assists in La Liga. The Brazilian striker’s success is a big reason why he is still admired by Barcelona supporters, as well as coming in off the back of Cruyff’s tenure and immediately bringing success.
Robson spent only one year at Camp Nou as a manager before moving into the general manager position for one year in 1997-98. Ronaldo also spent one year at Barca before moving to Inter Milan in the summer, and that year is still talked about today by former players and fans for Robson’s character and success.
In a 2003 interview with the BBC, Ronaldo claimed that Robson is one of the best around:
“As a trainer, without a doubt, he is one of the greatest in the world.”
The Brazilian striker continued, “He was like a father to me. Bobby Robson helped me to be consistent and helped me a lot with my career.”
Ronaldo posted 47 goals and 13 assists in 49 games under Robson. He was just getting started on his rise to footballing superstardom.
Return to England
After his time in Spain, Robson briefly managed PSV Eindhoven, but in 1999, he joined Newcastle as their new manager, his first time managing in England in nine years since leaving the England national team.
Newcastle were struggling at the time. Ruud Gullit struggled to put the Magpies in the position the Toon Army expected after Kevin Keegan’s period at the club. Robson took charge with his side sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, but he led them to an 11th-place finish.
In the following years, Robson was able to get Newcastle back into European competition, where they competed against some of the best. In the 2001-02 season, they reached the UEFA Intertoto Cup final but lost on away goals to Troyes.
The following season, they qualified for the Champions League for the second time in the club’s history. The Magpies even secured a historic win at St James’ Park against Juventus.
The 2003-04 season saw them drop out of the Champions League in the qualifying phase, so they headed to the UEFA Cup. Robson’s side reached the semi-final, where a brace from Didier Drogba knocked them out.
Although Robson wasn’t able to deliver any major silverware to the club, the fans adored what he was able to do with the club. He built an exciting team featuring players like Alan Shearer, Shay Given, Gary Speed and Craig Bellamy.
All these players thrived under Robson, and his achievements, including consistent European qualification, along with his relationship with the supporters, make him one of the best managers the club has ever had.
In a 2011 interview, Bellamy spoke highly of Robson during his spell at Newcastle.
“I was lucky he signed me, and just to be involved with him, because he understood the club, and you know he knew what the club was.”
If you visit St James’ Park today, you are still reminded of the great work Robson achieved, as a statue stands there, honouring his work.
Impact in today’s game
Players and managers drew much inspiration from Robson and what he achieved at both clubs. It’s still there for us all to see.
Robson’s assistant manager at Porto and Barcelona, Jose Mourinho, later became one of the most successful managers of all time. The Portuguese coach has managed some of the best clubs around the world, where he has won multiple league titles and the Champions League at Inter Milan.
Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique both played under Robson, and they have both gone on to manage Barcelona, lift the European Cup for the Catalans, and become legendary managers.
Bellamy was named the Wales national team manager in 2024. He became the first coach in the nation’s history to remain unbeaten in their first four matches, and will be hoping to reach the World Cup this summer.
Manchester United’s legendary manager Alex Ferguson once said (via talkSPORT):
“There is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson.”
Few words capture Robson’s influence better than that. A man not only remembered for his success, but also for his love for the supporters.
