Sir Bobby Robson, the former England manager, died at the age of 76 at his home, following a long battle with cancer, different UK publication reports.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Sir Bobby Robson was first diagnosed with cancer in the early 1990s and had since suffered with the disease at different times of his life.
Since 2007, after his latest cancerous nodules in his lungs were diagnosed as terminal, he had spent his remaining time helping to fight the disease.
Only last Sunday, he appeared at St James’ Park for the Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match featuring players from the 1990 England and West Germany squads, said the Daily Telegraph.
“It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer,” read a statement released by Robson’s family, according to the Guardian.
Sir Bobby Robson died very peacefully on Friday morning, 31 July at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.
His funeral will be private and for family members only, sports correspondent Louise Taylor said in the Guardian.
Jeremy Wilson said in the Daily Telegraph Sir Bobby’s family members wanted a private funeral and they would be appreciated if the public could respect their privacy at this difficult time.
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the tributes, saying that Robson’s “Passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism knew so equal during his time both as a player and a manager”.
Brown’s predecessor Tony Blair, a Newcastle supporter, described Robson as “one of the nicest, most caring and genuine people I ever met – a real Geordie gentleman”, according to the Guardian.
A Portuguese coach, former colleague of Sir Bobby Robson paid his tribute to Sir Bobby Robson after the announcement of his death, and said he is “a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm.”
“Robby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side, “ the Daily Telegraph reports.
Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson also paid tribute to a “great and wonderful” friend he said always had time for everyone, according to the Guardian.
He said: “In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson. I mourn the passing of a great friend; a wonderful individual; a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed.”
He then went on to say the strength and courage Sir Bobby Robson showed over the past couple of years when battling against his fifth bout of cancer was indescribable.
“He always had a smile, always a friendly word with never a mention of his own problems. The world, not just the football world, will miss him. Let’s hope it won’t be long before another like him turns up because we could never get enough of them.”
Over the weekend, fans at match also paid tribute to this County Durham-born footballing legend.
Donations have been pouring into the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, set up by Sir Bobby Robson in March 2008.
The Foundation is to raise money to fund clinical trials of new drugs and treatments to beat cancer, the BBC reports.
Jeremy Wilson wrote in the Daily Telegraph, as a player, Robson made 20 appearances for England, with his former clubs including Fulham, West Brom and Vancouver.
However it was as a coach that he established a world-wide reputation during a career that spanned some four decades, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Sir Bobby Robson began in management at Hulham, before moving to Ispwich, where he achieved remarkable success over 13 years, guiding the club to The Football Association Challenge Cup and the Union of European Football Association Cup.
He was then appointed England manager and came closer than anyone since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966 to winning the World Cup, taking England to a semi-final in 1990 that they lost on penalties to West Germany.
After leaving England, he achieved further success with Philips Sport Vereniging Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and Newcastle, before working with Steve Staunton as international consultant for the Republic of Ireland.
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