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Further we publish the last interview given to Sero Bobby Robson "World Soccer" magazine, dedicated to UEFA's anniversary. This time the coach talks about his further career and foreign clubs.
Abroad - 10 years
I spent 10 years abroad - in the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and back in the Netherlands. Expectations were always different. You work with a club for two years and then move on. Out of my first 22 years as a coach, I spent 14 years at Ipswich, then eight coaching England. 22 years and only two jobs! After that, I spent 10 years abroad and coached three clubs in four countries, but I enjoyed every minute spent there.
Happy times
I realized that coaches get more respect abroad. They called me Mister or even Sera - even before I was knighted. There was no 'drinking culture' as it was in England. Players were more relaxed, not worried about formations. If they didn't fit the formation, they accepted the decision and worked even harder during training to convince you that they were worthy of playing. No one ever complained or grumbled.
Return home
Of course, all that time I was abroad, I watched how the Premiership developed and improved, and it excited me. I was happy with my work, but anyway, I was still English and wanted to be part of that. But I also thought I might be too old. For one last season, I returned to Ipswich, and in 1999 I returned home.
Recovering Premier League
At that time, the Premier League was experiencing a rise in popularity. While abroad, I witnessed it through television. But when I came back, I saw that all the top clubs already had great coaches - Sir Alex Ferguson at the club, Ruud Gullit, Arsène Wenger.
Jobless coach
I thought I could find work as a European scout, but when I returned home in the summer of 1999, I found myself without a job for the first time in 50 years. It was the league's opening day, and I didn't participate in any match for the first time ever. I didn't like it! I didn't know what to do.
Newcastle opportunity
I thought that after 2 or 3 weeks I would figure it out and calm down. However, Newcastle started the season terribly and suddenly Ruud Gullit resigned. The Newcastle coaching seat was vacant. They called me, and after one day (the time it took for them to come to London and for me to come from Ipswich) everything was already agreed upon. Now I am on the field every nice day - creating training programs, schedules, selecting tactics, team composition. I just coach.
Nothing has changed
I also got involved in the Newcastle youth academy, or the academy of young talents. The same as most clubs have. In fact, it's the same as in Ipswich, we just called it youth policy. So you can say that everything has changed over the years, but in reality, nothing has changed.
Part 1 of the interview.
