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Farewell but Not Goodbye
The autobiography of Sir Bobby Robson, a former international footballer for England who has become one of the most widely respected managers in the World game. In addition to managing England in two World Cups, Sir Bobby has also taken charge of numerous clubs including Barcelona, Newcastle United, PSV Eindhoven, Ipswich Town, Sporting Lisbon and Porto.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 22, 2024
enjoyed this down to earth and open autobiography of former player and manager his ups and downs
October 19, 2015
Certainly Sir Bobby Robson's autobiography documents his long football journey. I'm old enough to say that he was on the pitch playing the game when I first took my place on the terraces.
'Farewell but not Goodbye' may be one of the better 'footie' autobiogs, yet although it documents his early life and career, his decade or so at the highest levels of the English game are not given the space in this book that I would have liked.
The balance is not there too, when he covers his managerial career. His times at PSV, Sporting Lisbon and Porto are given brief attention compared to his times at Ipswich and especially Newcastle. Maybe that's understandable from a 'Geordie boy'.
I would have found it interesting to have had more of Bobby's comparisons of the continental and English management and training regimes. Still, this is a quite insightful and interesting account of a long life at the top of the soccer tree, that bridges the old game with the new.
'Farewell but not Goodbye' may be one of the better 'footie' autobiogs, yet although it documents his early life and career, his decade or so at the highest levels of the English game are not given the space in this book that I would have liked.
The balance is not there too, when he covers his managerial career. His times at PSV, Sporting Lisbon and Porto are given brief attention compared to his times at Ipswich and especially Newcastle. Maybe that's understandable from a 'Geordie boy'.
I would have found it interesting to have had more of Bobby's comparisons of the continental and English management and training regimes. Still, this is a quite insightful and interesting account of a long life at the top of the soccer tree, that bridges the old game with the new.
May 1, 2022
A Newcastle club destined for relegation get a new manager and suddenly they are hard to beat and propelling up the table. The beginning of a beautiful chapter in that clubs history...I refer not to the 2022 appointment of Eddie Howe to the Magpies, but to 1999 when a club on its knees were brought back to life by the appointment of one Sir Bobby Robson.
I had never read Sir Bobby's account of his departure from Newcastle (though had known of the edited highlights) so years after his shameful and short sighted sacking in 2004, I read with interest how it had panned out after that glorious 5 years I can still recall so fondly.
Sir Bobby was always a gentleman and this book recounts the trials and tribulations he unfairly faced as England manager, Sporting, Porto, Barca, PSV, Ipswich and Newcastle manager. Never has such a great manager been so poorly treated by the beautiful game he served so faithfully. His ill treatment at Sporting and Barca in particular would make most manager so embittered, but Sir Bobby's spin on it is he was blessed to manage such giant clubs.
The Newcastle chapters make some hard reading. Even after the event, Sir Bobby protects his old players; some of whom (Kieron Dyer) clearly threw him under the bus despite all he had done for them. The Shearer rift rumours are, thankfully, a nonsense and Newcastle's favourite son does not come out of this tarnished at all.
Sir Bobby's incredible ordeals with cancer are also mentioned. He managed to beat it twice though towards the end he recounts a skiing trip in 2006 where a shadow on his lung is discovered. In the book, Sir Bobby believes he had found it in time and beaten it, but sadly three years later he would succumb to the terrible disease.
The book is full of praise for others, but is as always very humble about it's subject. Sir Bobby was a true gentleman and is very much missed...
I had never read Sir Bobby's account of his departure from Newcastle (though had known of the edited highlights) so years after his shameful and short sighted sacking in 2004, I read with interest how it had panned out after that glorious 5 years I can still recall so fondly.
Sir Bobby was always a gentleman and this book recounts the trials and tribulations he unfairly faced as England manager, Sporting, Porto, Barca, PSV, Ipswich and Newcastle manager. Never has such a great manager been so poorly treated by the beautiful game he served so faithfully. His ill treatment at Sporting and Barca in particular would make most manager so embittered, but Sir Bobby's spin on it is he was blessed to manage such giant clubs.
The Newcastle chapters make some hard reading. Even after the event, Sir Bobby protects his old players; some of whom (Kieron Dyer) clearly threw him under the bus despite all he had done for them. The Shearer rift rumours are, thankfully, a nonsense and Newcastle's favourite son does not come out of this tarnished at all.
Sir Bobby's incredible ordeals with cancer are also mentioned. He managed to beat it twice though towards the end he recounts a skiing trip in 2006 where a shadow on his lung is discovered. In the book, Sir Bobby believes he had found it in time and beaten it, but sadly three years later he would succumb to the terrible disease.
The book is full of praise for others, but is as always very humble about it's subject. Sir Bobby was a true gentleman and is very much missed...
September 14, 2021
A very entertaining behind the scenes look at the UK Professional Football Industry at the top level. The span of the book almost exactly matches my experiences as when I first started going to Fulham matches in the early 1960's the author was a regular in the Fulham team.
It was interesting to see the contrast between the 1950's & 60's when players earned just slightly more than the working men who paid to watch the matches, and the current situation where even the most mediocre of players in the Premier league earn over a £1m a year.
As an ex Management Consultant I found it very interesting to read of how badly most of these clubs are run at Board Level!
It was interesting to see the contrast between the 1950's & 60's when players earned just slightly more than the working men who paid to watch the matches, and the current situation where even the most mediocre of players in the Premier league earn over a £1m a year.
As an ex Management Consultant I found it very interesting to read of how badly most of these clubs are run at Board Level!
July 27, 2018
This is one of the few football autobiographies that I've read that leaves you with admiration of a professional life. Bobby Robson had one glittering career as a football coach that took him from Fulham and Ipswich Town to Porto, Sporting CP, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, and Newcastle United among other places he managed. In telling his story he is candid, informative and witty. Bobby Robson is a real gentleman of the game.
November 18, 2020
A great man, still missed.
I've been meaning to read this for ages and it didn't disappoint, as expected. A genuinely, lovely, well respected man and very much missed. Every football and non-football person should read this man's life. Still one of the most successful managers out there.
I've been meaning to read this for ages and it didn't disappoint, as expected. A genuinely, lovely, well respected man and very much missed. Every football and non-football person should read this man's life. Still one of the most successful managers out there.
August 17, 2024
Listened to the audio book.
It’s an Interesting if not brief story of Sir Bobby’s career - narrated by him, which always makes these autobiographies more personal to me.
Some Funny stories and interesting listening to him talk about his period as England Manager.
Clearly took the opportunity to put his side of false reported urban myths straight.
Only a short listen but worth it
It’s an Interesting if not brief story of Sir Bobby’s career - narrated by him, which always makes these autobiographies more personal to me.
Some Funny stories and interesting listening to him talk about his period as England Manager.
Clearly took the opportunity to put his side of false reported urban myths straight.
Only a short listen but worth it
May 1, 2018
There are hundreds of books ghost written by ex footballers and football managers. This one tells the story of maybe the most successful English manager and his battle against cancer, directors , the press and players who should have known better.
An interesting book about an interesting man.
An interesting book about an interesting man.
July 17, 2022
A decent and worthy enough history of Sir Bobby Robson's incredible life and career. What an amazing man. Loved reading this, but not a literary classic though, as one might suspect. If you liked the man this is well worth a couple of days light reading.
December 5, 2022
Facinating. Especially the stories of his fight with cancer and all details going on behind newspaper headlines. Clearly he enjoyed it immensely but I would never want to be a football coqch/ manager.
February 25, 2024
Excellent. Insights into the thoughts and challenges he had to overcome. Also demonstrates the stark difference between football back in his hay day compared to the luxury too flight modern footballers experience.
January 11, 2018
Excellent read for any Newcastle United supporter or those who followed England avidly under Sir Bobby's years in charge.
October 19, 2018
ultimately this is fairly interesting. you're better off reading this one than 'An Englishman Abroad' as this is more complete.
March 29, 2020
Sir Bobby Robson was an inspiration, a man who carried himself with dignity and poise in an often nasty and cut throat environment. This is a great read for anyone who is interested in football.
May 19, 2020
So proud to own a signed first edition of this autobiography from the legend that was Sir Bobby Robson. Loved reading every page of this book, definitely one to read for those into football.
January 6, 2021
One of the kindest men the game has ever had, a brilliant man with a fantastic life worth reading a must for any football fan.
February 4, 2022
Simply this is a nice feel good book filled with many stories from Bobby Robson’s travels as a manager at clubs like Barcelona, Porto and Newcastle, as well as England. Great read.
August 31, 2025
Great book. I really enjoyed it.
August 18, 2012
I'm not a great fan of biographies. Seriously, far too many non-entities these days are spewing the events of their event-less lives into books. Clearly, Sir Bobby Robson does not fit that description and I read this keenly to find out what he had to say about his time as England manager, what he thought of Maradona after "that" incident and the events surrounding his time as manager of Newcastle United.
This autobiography, poignantly named "Farewell, but not goodbye" was written shortly after he left Newcastle and wound down into retirement, was released as a commemorative edition with 2 extra chapters following his death in 2009 when cancer finally overtook him. In his life, he fought it - and beat it - five times. There is a lesson to us all in the fighting spirit but before that, Sir Bobby wants to take us on a journey. From his early life to his playing career and finally his meteoric career as a manager from Ipswich to England to the Continent and finally to his beloved Newcastle. Very few stones are unturned and many of the niggling questions are answered here, including a few stories that never made it into the public domain at the time.
A true gentleman of the game, football fans will read this with a hint of sadness of what he have lost in the game since the 1970s and how much has changed. You will also experience his managerial genius and critical eye for a good talent. The only complaint I have is that we don't hear much about his playing career, it is almost glossed over despite that he played for England. This could, and should, have been a longer book and I feel we deserved to hear about more of the on the pitch exploits for England, even though his career was as much about being what went on off the pitch as well as on.
See more book reviews at my blog
This autobiography, poignantly named "Farewell, but not goodbye" was written shortly after he left Newcastle and wound down into retirement, was released as a commemorative edition with 2 extra chapters following his death in 2009 when cancer finally overtook him. In his life, he fought it - and beat it - five times. There is a lesson to us all in the fighting spirit but before that, Sir Bobby wants to take us on a journey. From his early life to his playing career and finally his meteoric career as a manager from Ipswich to England to the Continent and finally to his beloved Newcastle. Very few stones are unturned and many of the niggling questions are answered here, including a few stories that never made it into the public domain at the time.
A true gentleman of the game, football fans will read this with a hint of sadness of what he have lost in the game since the 1970s and how much has changed. You will also experience his managerial genius and critical eye for a good talent. The only complaint I have is that we don't hear much about his playing career, it is almost glossed over despite that he played for England. This could, and should, have been a longer book and I feel we deserved to hear about more of the on the pitch exploits for England, even though his career was as much about being what went on off the pitch as well as on.
See more book reviews at my blog
June 11, 2009
Any soccer fan or coach should be interested in the career of Sir Bobby Robson. A native of the North-East of England, Sir Bobby Robson has coached at some of the biggest soccer clubs in the world.
Not only does this book offer life-lessons, it also delves into Sir Bobby's mindset as a player and offers an insight into his considerably talented coaching brain.
A thoroughly enjoyable book and my respect for Sir Bobby has risen considerably after only reading eight chapters. A Sir by name, a Sir by nature.
Unfortunately Bobby Robson is suffering from an incurable form of cancer having beaten the disease twice. It's such a shame that a life and career that has spanned the globe and touched so many people has to end in such a way.
Not only does this book offer life-lessons, it also delves into Sir Bobby's mindset as a player and offers an insight into his considerably talented coaching brain.
A thoroughly enjoyable book and my respect for Sir Bobby has risen considerably after only reading eight chapters. A Sir by name, a Sir by nature.
Unfortunately Bobby Robson is suffering from an incurable form of cancer having beaten the disease twice. It's such a shame that a life and career that has spanned the globe and touched so many people has to end in such a way.
September 18, 2011
In stark contrast to the other England manager's autobiography, (El Tel) this book is all about football. Bobby Robson lived and breathed the game. In my mind he is and will remain one of the greatest managers, the knowledge and insight he brought with him makes every other manager look like a schoolkid trying to act as though they're grown up.
The suits at Lancaster Gate should hang their heads in shame at the way they treated one of their greatest assets. That towards the end of his life, Bobby showed no bitterness towards them only adds to his stature.
If you live and breathe the 'beautiful game' this book is a must. Get a copy.
The suits at Lancaster Gate should hang their heads in shame at the way they treated one of their greatest assets. That towards the end of his life, Bobby showed no bitterness towards them only adds to his stature.
If you live and breathe the 'beautiful game' this book is a must. Get a copy.
March 31, 2013
Life story of an honourable man who's brought the best football to Newcastle in my time as a fan. Wonderful read, highly recommended for any football fan.
Sir Bobby is a down-to-earth, role-model professional all footballers should aspire to emulate.
This book has taught me luck definitely plays a part in success, but one needs to strike it lucky through hardwork. Some people are just fortunate enough to be doing the thing they love most as their work.
Sir Bobby is a down-to-earth, role-model professional all footballers should aspire to emulate.
This book has taught me luck definitely plays a part in success, but one needs to strike it lucky through hardwork. Some people are just fortunate enough to be doing the thing they love most as their work.
January 1, 2010
Fantastic book
January 19, 2010
H'way the lads man!
June 14, 2010
Fantastic book about one of the very few true gents that have graced the game. A real legend that will be sorely missed by football fans around the world
December 27, 2011
A great autobiography from one of my favorite ever people, written not too long before he died.
November 21, 2011
An amazing read by an amazing man.
July 7, 2014
Got bored.
August 23, 2014
Fabulous read written by an absolute Legend .
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November 30, 2016good book enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews