Tributes flooded in from all over the football world yesterday after former England manager Bobby Robson died following a long battle with cancer.
A statement issued on behalf of his family said the 76-year-old, who won league titles in the Netherlands and Portugal and managed Barcelona, passed away peacefully at home.
"It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer," it read. "He died very peacefully this morning at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.
Flags flew at half mast at Ipswich Town, the club where Robson made his name as a manager, while messages of sympathy arrived from his former clubs.
At his hometown club Newcastle United, who Robson managed from 1999 to 2004, club scarves, flowers and banners bearing his name piled up outside St James' Park which on Sunday hosted a charity match in his honour when Robson was given an emotional standing ovation by 33,000 fans.
The Football Association (FA) said Robson, who was England coach between 1982-90, was one of the country's greatest ever managers with FA chief executive Ian Watmore calling him "an ambassador for the game."
"Sir Bobby was a wonderful man, a real gentleman," said current England manager Fabio Capello in a statement. "He loved the game and was extremely proud of his country and the North East region."
Robson, the son of a coal miner, was one of the most respected men in world football, enjoying a successful playing career with West Bromwich Albion and Fulham during the 1950s and 60s and earning 20 England caps before moving into coaching.
He carved out a reputation as one of the most astute young managers in England after taking over at unfashionable Ipswich Town in 1969, establishing them as regular title challengers and winning the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.
He was named England manager in 1982 and despite some troubled times he ended his eight-year reign by leading England to the World Cup semi-finals in Italy in 1990 where they lost to West Germany in a penalty shoot-out.
European odyssey
His success with England attracted interest from Europe and Robson took over at PSV Eindhoven after the 1990 World Cup, leading them to consecutive Dutch titles.
After a spell with Sporting Lisbon, Robson was hired by Porto where he won two titles before moving taking the pressure-cooker Barcelona job in 1996 where in his one season in charge he won the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup.
Robson, who was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1992 and had a malignant melanoma in 1995, made an emotional return to his native Newcastle in 1999, taking over as manager when Ruud Gullit was sacked. He twice took them into the Champions League but was sacked in 2004.
His final job in football was working with Ireland as a special consultant but he was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in 2008.
News of Robson's death transcended the world of football with Prime Minister Gordon Brown leading the tributes.
"I had the privilege of meeting Bobby on many occasions. He epitomised everything that is great about football in this country. His passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism knew no equal during his time both as a player and a manager.
"Over the past few years, he fought cancer with his characteristic tenacity and good humour. He will be sorely missed - not only in Newcastle and Ipswich, both of whom he served with such devotion, but by all sports fans in our country," Brown said in a statement.