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Bobby Robson is one of the most complete coaches in football history.
We live in an era where you can coach a team to six Super Bowl wins and people turn around and say ‘Yeah, but…’ before listing off a series of random things that the coach hasn’t done.
What makes Bobby Robson so complete is it’s impossible to do that to him.
He took over newly-promoted Ipswich Town in 1969 and turned them into a force of English football, winning domestic and European trophies alongside consistent league results. He could build.
He then took over England, becoming only the second coach to lead the nation to a World Cup semi-final, which they lost on penalties. He could coach national teams.
He then won two successive league titles with PSV Eindhoven, who’d lost their stronghold to Dutch rivals Ajax. He could win in foreign countries.
He won back-to-back league titles in Portugal, where he helped usher along the careers of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas. He could develop younger coaches.
In his single season at Barcelona, he won three trophies and unearthed a player nicknamed “The Phenomenon,” who would go on to win two Ballon d’Ors and the World Cup — Ronaldo. He could win at the highest level.
Robson returned to England and turned his local club, Newcastle United, into a regular Champions League team. He could coach in the Premier League era.
In the documentary about his legacy, Robson’s wife Elsie reads out some notes he’d made about motivating players.
“I think they are wonderful guidelines,” she says before the scene ends.
She’s right.
Here’s Sir Bobby Robson’s eleven commandments for motivating players:
To build a team of motivated players a good coach should:
Be able to control himself before he can control them (the team).
Be passionate about the subject (in this case football).
Be open-minded — a good listener.
A winner — single-minded about the ultimate outcome.
Honest — to gain respect — fair.
Command discipline.
Set good examples.
Understand individuals (what makes them tick).
React positively to criticism. Decrease the stress.
Be positive and confident himself to give confidence to others.
Be trustworthy.