Bryan Robson: The greatest Manchester United captain

It was the combative way in which he played, how he led by example, the timely moments of magic he produced and the total pride with which he wore the United shirt and the captain’s armband that made him my idol. That’s why I wrote his name on my pencil case, refused to exchange my Robson Panini sticker ‘swaps’ and made my dad paint a number seven (and an armband) on one of my United Subbuteo players.

When United finally collected that elusive league title in 1993 it was him I was most delighted for. Not because of his supporting role in the achievement but for all he’d given in the barren years. He’d earned this medal in the decade before. It was his reward for the hard yards.

Back when I was growing up, mates of mine loved Norman Whiteside, the Shankill skinhead with an edge to his game. Others dreamed of being Mark Hughes with his gravity-defying, acrobatic volleys. One lad even swore Remi Moses was Pele with an afro. 

But, for me, there was and always will be ‘only one Bryan Robson’.

The opinions in this story are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Manchester United Football Club.

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