Steven Taylor left Newcastle United in 2016 following relegation under Rafa Benitez.
Steven Taylor has named Sir Bobby Robson as the best manager he worked under at Newcastle United.
That is despite the former Toon defender playing just twice under the iconic gaffer during his 12-year playing career at St James’ Park. It was Robson who gave Taylor his Newcastle debut in March 2004 when he came on as a substitute against Real Mallorca.
Taylor was given another chance - this time from the starting line-up - just days later but a costly mistake led to a Bolton Wanderers winner. Most of his time in the academy ranks was during an era when Robson led the charge at first-team level.
Newcastle United managerial turnaround
While Eddie Howe has been in situ for almost four years, the Magpies rarely had the same stability during Taylor’s time on Tyneside. The 40-year-old worked with 13 managers during his Toon career - an indictment of the volatile Mike Ashley era.
In 2008-09, four men - including club icon Alan Shearer - coached Newcastle as relegation loomed. Taylor left his boyhood club in 2016 - during Rafa Benitez's reign - following another drop to the Championship.
Sir Bobby Robson the best
Speaking to the Adopted Geordies podcast, Taylor named Robson as the best he worked under. He said: “Sir Bobby Robson was an absolute legend who you just didn’t want to let down. When he speaks to you in training, it was the little things he would say. You never forget.
“As a manager, it’s an art. People lose that now. I see a lot of coaches in the game and it’s about them. You don’t really see your players and I think the players who aren’t playing are the ones you have to spend more time with.
“He (Robson) was very good but Kevin Keegan was probably the best at it. The way he’d keep you involved and put an arm around you after training, you’d feel like a million dollars. But you went into games feeling like that too.”
“There are certain managers I had, Chris Hughton, who were very good. A different manager, but very good with his players and understood what his players needed. He created a great environment. But for me, Bobby Robson is the one I’d go back to (as the best) right from when I was 16 years old.”
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Steven Taylor’s famous Sunderland quote
The Whitley Bay native wrote the headlines himself in October 2012 when he joked about rather collecting stamps than wearing a Sunderland shirt. With the Tyne-Wear derby returning next season, why not relive that famous quote for old time’s sake?
"I would rather go and collect stamps than stick on that shirt!” Taylor said at the time. “I have not got any friends who are Sunderland fans. As for the players, I am friendly with one or two of them from the (England) Under-21s but that was before they signed for Sunderland.
"When I am warming up, their fans have veins popping out of their necks. It is like I have done something to their family or something. Even when I was just starting out I have always enjoyed that hostility, getting abuse from their fans. It doesn't bother me that much. I like that sort of thing. It won't upset me one bit."
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