Born on 18 February 1933 in County Durham Sir Bobby Robson, the former England manager died peacefully surrounded by his family. Such was the esteem he was held Gordon Brown the current British Prime Minister said on the morning of Sir Bobby Robson's passing that his passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism 'knew no equal' during his time both as a football player and a manager. In a world of politics so full of empty thoughts, words and pre-scripted phrasal such an eulogy for Robson can be taken as fact.

In the 1970's, 80's and 90's Bobby Robson was one of the main names in the football management world.  In the 70's alongside Brian Clough his choice of management - in his case at Ipswich Town-  saw teams succeed both domestically and internationally.    In 1981, my team Aberdeen FC got the chance to directly pit wits against Ipswich Town in the 1st Round of the UEFA Cup when Robson was the manager of Ipswich.   The Tractor Boys as they are knicknamed, who were then the UEFA Cup holders and filled to the brim with England internationals such as Mick Mills, Terry Bucther and Russell Osman, lost to Aberdeen but that never stopped Robson entering the Aberdeen dressing room at the match end.  Standing in the centre of the home changing area he congratulated his conquerers. Sir Alex Ferguson often recalls this early encounter with Robson as a mark of the man; his dignity and fairness of vision.

Sir Bobby Robson will be best remembered on the international stage for leading England to the 1990 World Cup semi-final and a 4th place finish.   The echoes of Nesson Dorma and Italia '90 forever being associated with his management of the team.   Previous to his managerial pinnacle with England he had cut his managerial teeth at Fulham before establishing his credentials at that famous Ipswich Town team where he won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup in a 13-year stay.

After England, Sir Bobby Robson became an Englishman abroad and went international as he spent spells managing at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and Barcelona.   At Barcelona he worked alongside a young Jose Mourinho to bring Barcelona the ECWC and Spanish Cup.   Following on from these stints abroad he managed Newcastle United before being sacked after a poor string of results. He may have been a little older, a little muddled and slightly frazzled but he was rich in experience, fitness and heart.    The aura he had about him was so much so that players would do anything for him, seeing him as a father figure and mentor.

Terry Butcher recalled once meeting him at a midweek game in Newcastle; the encounter goes some way to telling how loved the man was but how curious his musing on the game had come as well with age.   On meeting Terry Butcher, Sir Bobby asked him at the game “How long did it take you to get here big man?” Butcher replied “Drove down boss, a few hours.”   Butcher then went on to describe how Robson then at 10 minute intervals would ask Terry Butcher the same repeated question “How long did it take you to get here big man?” After asking the same question for the third time and getting the same answer Robson then went into a long ponderous pause and asked Butcher “So, how long will it take you to get back big man?”.    Sir Bobby's memory may not have been as it was once; tails of calling a 'Michael' 'Gary' and vice versa abound but even at 76 years a healthly and fit Robson may well still be at the helm of Newcastle United today using his enthusiasm, passion and knowledge to lead the club out of the doldrums it finds itself.

Newcastle United the club have never really recovered since his departure from the club. A succession of managers have failed to take the club anywhere near his achievements and hold themselves in any esteem with the demanding geordie fans. After leaving Newcastle he was a consultant for the Republic of Ireland side alongside Steve Staunton a manager learning his trade under the critical eye of the Irish Press.  He endevoured at every opportunity to back Staunton in communications with the demanding Irish media and was held in large esteem. While he was still battling another bout of cancer he later took on an ambassadorial role for the Football Association of Ireland.

It is almost impossible to talk of Sir Bobby Robson without making reference to his health struggles. For a man who was diagnosed with cancer five times over a 15 year period his career success becomes even more remarkable. It is a scenario that most people - even to the one in three people who develop the disease-are unlikely to face. Sir Bobby is reported to have responded indignantly when he was first told in 1992 that a "little bit of cancer" in his bowel would take him away from PSV Eindhoven for three months. No sooner had the problem been identified it was taken out and the manager got back to business at the Philips Stadion.

Then years later an entirely new form of the disease made an appearance; this time a Malignant melanoma was found in Sir Bobby's face. It was only discovered by a specialist after he had complained about blocked sinuses. To remove it doctors had to take out his teeth and tunnel through the roof of his mouth. In 2006, cancer was found in his lungs the size of a pea. But not to be undone soon after Robson talked of being 'as clean as a whistle' and was back as optimistic as ever.   Cruelly, a year later a brain tumour left him with partial paralysis and, as he appeared at the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards to receive a lifetime achievement award, the effect cancer was having on his body  physically was all too clear. A scan soon after then revealed Sir Bobby had inoperable cancerous nodules in his lungs.   Doctor then told him he may have as little as eight months to live, but amazingly Sir Bobby survived for over two years.

Senior cancer doctors, specialist and nurses across England acknowledged that Robson was indeed a man who went through a huge amount in terms of cancer suffering and showed a great deal of spirit in the process.   Due to his high profile work in the area of cancer care and research his success and legacy can be regarded as multifaceted. For someone to live with the disease so publicly as Robson did has been immensely empowering to the many people suffering from cancer who looked on. He showed to others that you can face cancer head-on, with enthusiam and still express a passion for life. This immense strength of character made Robson even more of an inspirational figure and even more loved within and outwith the football world.

Such was his efforts he also leaves the The Bobby Robson Cancer Foundation, which raised sufficient funds via a variety of events to open a trials research centre in Newcastle earlier this year. Its aims include offering patients access to early trials and potential new treatments, many of which have never been tried in humans.

Although remembered for his managerial success Robson was one of the most respected men in football for his playing career.    At 10 years old he turned out for Langley Park Football Club and soon progressed to the under-18 side. Alongside figures such as Johnny Hayes, he enjoying a successful playing career with West Bromwich Albion, Fulham and in Canada earning 20 England caps before moving into the coaching field.   For Fulham he made 152 appearances scoring 68 goals. In 1953 he was inspired by the Magical Magyar team of Puskas, Czibor and Hideguti at Wembley so much that he attended an FA coaching course at barely 20 years old gaining his full coaching badges by 1961.

The path to the managerial heights of the England job was not without problems such as a sacking at Fulham and England’s struggles under him at the 1988 European Championships. By 1989 the growing intrusiveness and hysteria of the English tabloid press made him the first England manager to be subjected to modern media hysteria. From 1982 when he was appointed England manager  culminating in the run to the 1990 FIFA World Cup semi-finals he will be remembered for taking England to the best campaign by an England team at a World Cup outside of their own country. Honours followed him around at PSV Eindhoven and FC Porto – with a stint at Sporting Clube de Portugal in between – winning two league titles with both clubs.  Sir Bobby then led FC Barcelona during the 1996/97 season, lifting the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with players such as Ronaldo and the current Barcelona manager Gaurdiola in his team.

He returned to PSV in 1998/99 before enjoying five years at the helm of Newcastle United FC, guiding his boyhood team into the UEFA Champions League.   Honourary degrees followed from a number of academic institutions including the University of East Anglia and Sir Bobby was awarded the UEFA Order of Merit in Emerald in March 2009. He had also received the UEFA President's Award in 2002.

On Sunday 26th July 2009 Robson was given a standing ovation and honoured by a crowd of more than 30,000 at Newcastle United's St James' Park.  Fans had attended a match to raise money for his cancer charity.   Wheelchair bound but still smiling, it was to be his last ever appearance in public. It was fitting he should be shaking hands with so many of the 1990 World Cup squad from Shilton to Gascoigne on the night.

The Football world has lots of heroes; but football also has its heroes who are lifetime friends of the football world. Football players are often criticised for there impenatrable hardened, masculine outer shell and macho exterior. Such was the feeling for Sir Bobby Robson though, more than a few tears would have dripped down the eyes of footballers with his passing.

Antonio de Nigris Guajardo

Robert Enke