Sir Bobby, 76, passed away this morning at his home, a statement issued on behalf of his family said. It said: "It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer.

"He died very peacefully this morning at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him. Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only.

"A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby's life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues. Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time."

Just five days ago thousands of football fans crowded into Newcastle United’s St James’s Park to pay tribute to Sir Bobby and raise funds for his cancer charity. The friendly game featured an England side including Alan Shearer and several members of the 1990 World Cup squad. including Paul Gascoigne. They beat a Germany team 3-2.

 

One of Sir Bobby’s most memorable games as England boss was the 1990 World Cup semi-final when England lost on penalties to Germany in Italy.

Before the kick-off of Sunday’s game a guard of honour gave fans and players a chance to show their appreciation of Sir Bobby, who shook the hand of every player. Proceeds from the match went towards The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, launched in March 2008. The foundation has raised more than £1.3 million to fight cancer.

 

Biographer Bob Harris paid tribute to Sir Bobby’s fight against cancer, saying the way he had battled five bouts of serious illness made him start to think he was “immortal”.“He was a lovely lovely man,” he told Sky News. “The way I will remember him is that he was a genuine, real football man who loved the game beyond everything else.” Mr Harris said he had a “great attitude” to the sport wherever he played or managed. He added: “As a manager England was his greatest pinnacle. “He always wanted to manage England. I think he would have liked to have carried on.”

 

Sir Bobby was one of the most popular figures in football. His exploits in the Italia 90 World Cup when England battled through to the semi-final made him the country’s most successful national boss since Sir Alf Ramsey. Before that, his skill as a manager had nurtured Ipswich Town into a European force.

After leaving the England job, Sir Bobby managed club sides in Holland, Portugal and Spain, capturing the hearts of millions more fans along the way.

Five times he fought cancer and after his last diagnosis he devoted his time to raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which kitted out a state-of-the art centre in his beloved Newcastle to fight the disease. Such was the public’s regard for Sir Bobby that the £500,000 needed was raised in just seven weeks. Fans from around the world contributed to what Sir Bobby hoped would be his most lasting legacy. By his 76th birthday, the total was well over £1.2 million.

 

Former FA executive David Davies told the BBC: “The players took to him in a big way. “They respected him. They had some fun at his expense, to be sure ... but they will be immensely sad this morning.” Football pundit Alan Hansen described Sir Bobby as a “tremendous manager, a tremendous person”. “If you are a manager of a football club you have got to be very, very single-minded,” he said. “You’ve got to be tough, you’ve got to be hard but Bobby did it in a way that was special inasmuch as he was hard, he was tough, he was single-minded but the players knew that and they respected him for that.”

 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Sir Bobby and said he would be “sorely missed”. “I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of Sir Bobby Robson,” Mr Brown said. “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.His remarkable achievements as manager of Ipswich Town and then of England are among the most distinguished in English football history, and he was able to replicate that extraordinary success during his time at PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Barcelona.

 

“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. My sincere condolences go to his wife Elsie and his family.”

 

Former prime minister Tony Blair, a Newcastle supporter, said: “Sir Bobby was one of the nicest, most caring and genuine people I ever met - a real Geordie gentleman. “He was, of course, an outstanding coach, but he was also immensely generous with his time and energy across a range of charitable activities. “It was a privilege to have known him.”

 

Former England captain Gary Lineker praised Sir Bobby’s loyalty to players, which he said was demonstrated in his selection of the striker for the 1986 World Cup. He said: “He got the best out of individuals because he was very loyal to the players that he trusted and he would give them a great deal of respect and ultimately the players had a real love for Bobby. “He was the sort of guy you wanted to perform for. “He was unbelievably passionate about the sport and he gave his all - it was his life in many ways.” Of his battle with cancer, Lineker said he fought “very bravely. He never complained,” he said. “Despite his illness he concentrated his efforts on raising money for his charity to help others and that’s the measure of the man. Even when he was going through terribly difficult times with his health his foremost thoughts were to try and help other people in similar situations.”

 

Conservative Party leader David Cameron said: “I was very saddened by the news of Sir Bobby Robson’s death. “I was fortunate enough to meet him on a couple of occasions and despite his massive success he was the most modest and self effacing of men. Sir Bobby’s long battle against cancer was an inspiration to all. He will be remembered for his bravery, his sense of humour and his achievements as one of our greatest ever football managers. My thoughts are with his widow Elsie and their family.”

 

Prince William, who is president of the FA, said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened to hear about Sir Bobby Robson’s death. “His contribution to English football as a player, manager and superb ambassador for our national game has been immense. He will be sadly missed by football fans everywhere, and I am thinking about his family at this difficult time.”

 

As hundreds of fans arrived at St James’ Park in Newcastle to pay their tributes to Sir Bobby, the club lowered the stadium’s flags as a mark of respect.

 

Newcastle United opened books of condolence and fans queued up to add their names. The books were opened in the foyer of the main stands, where a bronze statue of Sir Bobby is located. Newcastle United players, including local goalkeeper Steve Harper and Steven Taylor, arrived at the ground. Players were expected to lay a wreath in the middle of the pitch and interim boss Chris Hughton was expected to pay tribute.

 

Fans inside the ground chanted Sir Bobby’s name after Newcastle United players held an emotional minute’s silence for the former manager. Goalkeeper Steve Harper, from Easington, County Durham, Nigeria-born but Geordie-raised striker Shola Ameobi and defender Steven Taylor carried a wreath of white lilies on to the pitch. The playing surface looked pristine which would have pleased a football man like Sir Bobby. Fans applauded as the Newcastle squad walked out to the centre circle.

 

There was a minute’s silence and the players stood with their heads bowed in respect. As they walked off fans who had gathered to leave tributes behind one of the goals began to sing Sir Bobby’s name. Afterwards Harper said: “We were sat in the canteen this morning when the news came on and players were visibly upset. Before training we had a minute’s silence and Chris Hughton spoke very well about Sir Bobby. It has been a very sombre day. It is important we came here to pay our respects. It has just been a privilege to have met him and to have got to know him. Having him around, everyone loved him and rightly so.” Harper said he was pleased to have been at Sunday’s charity match when he spoke to Sir Bobby for the last time.

 

There was no response today at the home of former England and Newcastle United midfielder Paul Gascoigne. No-one answered the electronic intercom at the entrance to the exclusive block of flats where the former footballer lived in the upmarket Newcastle suburb of Jesmond. However, Gascoigne’s £25,000 Harley Davidson motorbike could be seen parked outside the building. It is understood from a source close to the troubled former footballer that he was very upset by the death of Sir Bobby.