Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: Sportsmail's top 50 footballers to have played under Sir Bobby Robson, Nos 20-11
The world of football stopped to pay tribute to the great Sir Bobby Robson following his death last month.
One of the best bosses to emerge from England, he gained respect from around the globe for his work.
Robson started his managerial career at Fulham in 1968, taking control of Ipswich, England, PSV Eindhoven (twice), Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona before finishing at Newcastle, the club he supported all his life.
The Geordie legend worked with some of the game's greats along the years and Sportsmail has compiled the top 50 stars to work under him.
As always, you can tell us who you think should finish No 1 by leaving your comments.
20 Eric Gates
The lad from County Durham came through the youth ranks at Ipswich, making his debut in and played for the club a total of 296 times, scoring 23 goals. Gates was influential in the Town side that came close to successive league titles in the early 1980's.
19 Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy moved to PSV in 1998 and it was under the guidance of Robson that the Dutch striker attracted attention from the biggest clubs around the world - eventually moving to Manchester United and then on to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
18 Peter Shilton
One of the greatest goalkeepers England has ever produced. In a career spanning three decades, Shilton played under numerous national managers but it was at Italia 90 that Shilton - like all the England team - nearly achieved immortality after crashing out on penalties to West Germany in the semi-final. Don't mention how he lobbed got from a free-kick or how he went the right way on every penalty but failed to save a single one.
17 Frans Thijssen
Robson signed Thijssen for Ipswich in 1979 and in 1981 was voted PFA Player of the Year. He helped Ipswich Town to UEFA Cup in 1981, scoring one goal in each of the two legs of the final. He also played a major role in their second placed finish in the league, and a run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
16 Peter Beardsley
Another skilful player from the North East that Robson was always keen to have in his England side. Beardsley had a great World Cup in 1986, setting up goals for Gary Lineker who finished top scorer at the tournament.
15 Johnny Haynes
Haynes played under Robson while he was player-manager at Fulham, his first management role, in 1968. Haynes played just shy of 600 times for the west London club, scored 154 goals and now has a stand named after him at Craven Cottage.
14 Stuart Pearce
Robson made Pearce the 999th player to pull on the Three Lions shirt and became the first choice left-back for the best part of a decade. A pariah after his penalty miss in 1990, but found redemption after his successful spot-kick at Euro '96.
13 Paul Mariner
Now here was a player! The prolific striker was known for his goals, flowing hair - weren't they all in the 70's - and was the mainstay of the Ipswich attack during the successful period of the late 70's and early 80's. Scored in the first-leg of the Uefa Cup Final in 1981.
12 Kevin Beattie
Robson nicknamed Beattie 'The Diamond' on the grounds that he had discovered a gem when found him and asked him to join the youth set up at Ipswich. An FA Cup winner in 1978 but - more interestingly - he beat Sylvester Stallone in left and right-handed arm wrestles on the set of Escape to Victory and Sly refused to speak to him for the remainder of the shoot.
11 Arnold Muhren
Muhren spent four years at Portman Road under Robson and was the player that supplied the cross that Marco Van Basten sensationally volleyed home at the European Championships of 1988.
