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Noarlunga United
News
ROBSON IT IS
Bobby Robson has confirmed all rumours and has come home to manage
Newcastle
United
Former
England coach Bobby Robson has been appointed the new manager of Newcastle
United.
The 66-year-old comes out of retirement to replace Dutchman Ruud Gullit
who resigned from
the
premier league club on Saturday after a disastrous start to the season.
Robson, who last managed a British club 17 years ago, confirmed his appointment
on
BBC
radio and is expected to be in charge for the team's visit to Chelsea on
September 11.
"I hope to travel up to Newcastle for further talks and I expect them to
make a statement
sometime
later today," he said.
Newcastle, have just one point from six games - their worst start to a
season - and are
second
from bottom in the league.
Gullit, who took over from Kenny Dalglish in August 1998, resigned because
of poor results
and
media harassment.
A poll in a local newspaper found 87 per cent support for Robson, who hails
from the north-east,
taking
the job. Speaking on Sunday, he had made clear he wanted it.
"I'm in good health, the job wouldn't worry me," he said.
"I've got experience, I wouldn't be afraid of the job. My motivation is
very high
and
I've got plenty of ambition.
"I wouldn't turn the job down if it came my way," added Robson. "I've got
black and
white
blood in my veins."
Robson was offered the post in January 1997 when Kevin Keegan left the
job after five years
but
turned it down, saying he wanted to honour his contract with Barcelona
with whom he won
the
Spanish Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.
As a player he won 20 England caps before building his managerial reputation
by turning
unfashionable
Ipswich Town into one of the top clubs in England, winning the F.A. Cup
in 1978
and
the UEFA Cup in 1981.
He became England manager in 1982 and took them the the World Cup quarter-finals
in 1986
and
the semifinals four years later, when they lost to Germany on penalties.
He was given a mauling by the English tabloid media despite England's comparative
success and
gave
up the job in 1990 to take over PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
He went on to manage Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona before retiring
and returning to England.