Michael Robinson (footballer) facts for kids
Robinson in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John Robinson | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Date of death | 28 April 2020 (aged 61) | ||
| Place of death | Madrid, Spain | ||
| Height | 6 feet 0 inches (1.82 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1975–1979 | Preston North End | 48 | (15) |
| 1979–1980 | Manchester City | 30 | (8) |
| 1980–1983 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 113 | (37) |
| 1983–1984 | Liverpool | 30 | (6) |
| 1984–1986 | Queens Park Rangers | 48 | (5) |
| 1987–1989 | Osasuna | 58 | (12) |
| Total | 327 | (83) | |
| National team | |||
| 1980–1986 | Republic of Ireland | 24 | (4) |
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Michael John Robinson (born 12 July 1958 – died 28 April 2020) was a professional footballer. He played as a striker, which is a player who tries to score goals.
He played over 300 official matches in England. His teams included Preston North End, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, and Queens Park Rangers. He spent the last three years of his career in Spain with Osasuna.
Michael also played for the Republic of Ireland on the international stage. After he stopped playing football in 1989, he stayed in Spain. He became a well-known television pundit, which means he shared his expert opinions on sports. He even hosted a popular TV show called El día después from 1991 to 2005.
Contents
Michael Robinson's Football Career
Michael Robinson was born in Leicester, England. When he was young, his family moved to Blackpool. There, his parents ran a boarding house. He started his football journey with Preston North End. This team played in the second division of English football.
Moving to Bigger Clubs
In August 1979, Michael joined Manchester City. The transfer fee was quite high for a young player. Later that season, he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion. Here, he showed his skills as a strong and talented attacker.
Michael played a big part in the 1982–83 FA Cup final. He helped set up a famous missed goal in the first game against Manchester United. Brighton drew 2–2, but lost the replay 0–4 at Wembley. Even so, his performance caught the eye of other clubs.
Playing for Liverpool
Liverpool bought Michael for £250,000. He had to compete for a spot with famous players like Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush. In his first season (1983–84), Liverpool won three major trophies.
They won the league title, the league cup, and the European Cup. Michael played enough games to earn a medal for the league title. He was also a substitute in the League Cup final and the European Cup final.
Time at Queens Park Rangers
After Liverpool, Michael moved to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in 1984. He was unlucky again in a final, losing 0–3 to Oxford United in the 1986 Football League Cup Final.
However, he became a fan favorite at QPR. He scored an amazing 40-yard goal against their rivals Chelsea. This happened in a quarter-final match at Stamford Bridge.
Playing in Spain
In January 1987, Michael moved to Spain to play for CA Osasuna. His former Liverpool teammate Sammy Lee joined him later. Michael said that moving to Spain was "romantic" even if it wasn't the best financial offer.
He retired in the summer of 1989 when he was 31 years old. He played 58 games in La Liga (Spain's top league) and scored 12 goals. In the 1987–88 season, Osasuna finished fifth, which was a great achievement for them.
International Football for Ireland
Michael Robinson played 24 games for the Republic of Ireland. His first game was on 28 October 1980 against France. This was a qualifier for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
He stayed in Spain after retiring and learned the language very well. He even became a mentor to other English players who moved to Spain, like Steve McManaman.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 1980 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |  Cyprus |
3–0 | 6–0 | 1982 World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 9 September 1981 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Netherlands |
1–1 | 2–2 | 1982 World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 14 October 1981 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |  France |
3–1 | 3–2 | 1982 World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 21 September 1983 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Iceland |
2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 1984 qualifying |
Michael Robinson's Media Career
After his football career, Michael Robinson started working in television in Spain. He became a commentator for Radio Televisión Española. He covered the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
He then worked for Cadena SER and later for Canal+. He hosted a very popular TV show called El día después for 14 years. After that show ended, he continued to work on other sports programs. He also presented a monthly sports show called Informe Robinson.
Michael loved living in Spain. He once said, "I enjoyed more or less everything about Spain and the way the Spanish interpreted life." He felt he had a lot in common with Spanish people.
Besides football, Michael also covered rugby union events. This included the World Cup and the Six Nations Championship. He even did voice-over work for movies. He voiced one of the ugly sisters in the Spanish versions of the Shrek films!
Illness and Passing
On 17 December 2018, Michael Robinson shared that he had a serious illness. He passed away on 28 April 2020, at his home in Madrid, at the age of 61. He is remembered by his wife Christine and his children, Liam and Aimée.
Many people shared their sadness and tributes. Famous tennis player Rafael Nadal said, "We woke up with the sad news of the death of one of our own. You were the one who always made us happy about sport. We are grateful to you."
Honours and Awards
Player Achievements
Liverpool
- Football League First Division: 1983–84
- League Cup: 1983–84
- European Cup: 1983–84
Other Awards
- Premios Ondas: 2009 – Informe Robinson (Best Current affairs programme)
- Adopted son of Cádiz (2019)
Works
- Robinson, Michael (1996) (in es). Las cosas de Robin. Madrid: Ediciones El País-Aguilar. pp. 248. ISBN 84-03-59722-3.
- Robinson, Michael (2001) (in es). Lo que el ojo no ve. Madrid: Ediciones Aguilar. pp. 196. ISBN 84-03-09252-0.
- Robinson, Michael (2015) (in es). Acento Robinson: El lado humano del deporte. Aguilar. ISBN 978-8403501126.
- (in es) Es lo que hay...: Mis treinta años en España. Aguilar. 2017. ISBN 978-8403517462.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Robinson para niños
- List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland
