A midfielder, Bryan Robson began his senior career with West Bromwich Albion in 1975, having spent three years in the club’s youth academy. Robson was with the Baggies for six years in total and steadily developed at The Hawthorns, earning his first England call-up in 1980, the year before he departed the Midlands.
Ron Atkinson, under whom Robson found his best form at West Brom, moved to Manchester United in 1981 and Robson followed soon after, joining for a then-British record fee of £1.5 million. The midfielder became club captain soon after, a role that he held for the remainder of his career, just as he was swiftly appointed captain of the Three Lions.
Robson showcased his brilliance in his early days at Old Trafford, winning two FA Cups within his first five years at the club, but never a league trophy. All changed when Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed manager in 1986. The Scot, who would go on to become one of the greatest managers ever, overhauled the team, but Robson remained in Ferguson’s side.
In his later years as a player, Robson struggled significantly with injury problems. When fit, however, the midfielder was a staple of Ferguson’s first team, both for his leadership and overall ability. In 1993, after 12 years at the club, Robson finally won a league title with Man United as the club won the maiden season of the Premier League, though his injuries had become so bad that Robson featured in just a handful of matches.
The following season, Man United successfully defended their title in a campaign that saw Robson feature somewhat more, though signings made it clear that his time at the club was drawing to an end.
Scoring on the final day of the season, Robson lifted his second Premier League trophy in 1994 and departed that same year, joining Middlesbrough as a player-manager and retiring three years later.
Bryan Robson Career Stats
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Many of Robson's peers have spoken about his ability, just as Robson has spoken about several players since retiring. Back in 2016, speaking to The Sun via TNT Sports, Robson revealed which man he thought had the credentials to lead Man United forward as a manager.
‘Always a Deep Thinker’
Robson made a bold managerial claim
In 2016, Man United were feeling the harsh effects of Ferguson’s retirement. His successor, David Moyes, struggled for form and was sacked after under a year at the helm. Louis van Gaal was his permanent replacement but the Dutchman, similarly to Moyes, could not return the Red Devils to the heights they became accustomed to under Ferguson.
Robson stated that, in his opinion, after van Gaal was sacked in May 2016, there was a clear candidate for the managerial role who had previously served as a caretaker. Robson said:
“Ryan (Giggs) really can be the Pep Guardiola of (Manchester) United, I am sure of it. Yes, he’s a quiet lad, but that should make no difference. He has always been a deep thinker on the game. He’s worked hard to get to this point. They talk about Guardiola being intelligent and having a great football brain. Ryan is no different.”
A one-club man for his 24-year career, Giggs enjoyed an eye-watering amount of success in Manchester and has made more appearances for Man United than any other player. The Welshman entered coaching soon after his retirement, serving as an assistant to van Gaal after his caretaker stint in charge.
Giggs, who managed the Welsh national side from 2018 to 2022, has not worked in management since stepping down from that role. Whether he returns to coaching remains to be seen, but it is clear that Robson believed, and presumably still believes, that Giggs could do great things as a manager. It was high praise from a fellow Man United icon, and to be compared to the great Pep Guardiola is no small thing.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 23/06/2025 )
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He never received an international cap but Robson always rated him