By Matthew Jones
June 15 2002

At the age of 69, Bobby Robson has been rewarded for his lifelong devotion to football with a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Bobby Robson has been rewarded for his lifelong devotion to football with a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

At the age of 69 the former England manager led The Magpies to fourth place in the Premiership and a first Champions League appearance for the North-East club.

Robson began his coaching career with Fulham in the early 1960s before beginning a 13-year stint in charge at Ipswich in 1969. He made them one of the old First Division's most consistent performers during that period, masterminding a string of European campaigns, including a victory in the UEFA Cup in 1981.

Robson then took over as England boss, beginning his reign with a European Championship qualifier against Denmark in 1982. Ironically England face Denmark again today in a World Cup second-round clash.

The amiable Geordie guided the national team to the quarter-finals of Mexico 86 - losing out to Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' - and the semi-final defeat by Germany at Italy 90.

He stepped down after that defeat but made himself a reputation as a manager across Europe in successful stints at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.

He returned to his Tyneside in September 1999 after Ruud Gullit's departure from St James' Park and has turned Newcastle into serious Premiership title contenders.