Gary Lineker labels Bryan Robson as the most complete player he has come across in his career.
Bryan Robson was Manchester United‘s bulwark in the time he played for the club. In a career that lasted 13 years from 1981-1994, Robson made 257 appearances for the club and scored 59 times. He was also a part of the Manchester United side that won two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, and three League Cups.
Lineker, however, believes that Robson had the potential to win more honors had injuries not taken their toll on him. Throughout his career, Robson suffered from a spate of hamstring, calf, and ankle injuries that gradually hampered his playing days.
In a conversation on “The Rest is Football” podcast, as quoted by MEN, Lineker said, “I would actually go if we can go all time, Bryan Robson [as the most complete player].
“I honestly think if Robbo had stayed fit because he broke down in both World Cups I played in, in ‘86 and ‘90. I think we would have had a really good chance of winning one of those, particularly Italia ‘90.”
Lineker then went on to recall an incident when he went toe-to-toe with Robson while playing for Leicester City. Facing Manchester United in the League Cup, he was told to mark Robson on corners.
He further adds, “The first corner of the game comes and Robbo is there. So I run back and I stand next to him on the edge of the box. He looks at me and he just gives me a look and goes: ‘What are you doing?’ And I said: ‘Well I am marking you aren’t I,’ and he just laughed.
“The corner comes in and he charges in. I go back with him. He heads it, it hits the bar, and bounces over. “I am knocked and am lying on the edge of the six-yard box on the floor.”
He further elaborates, “15 minutes later there is another corner and the ball and I end up in the back of the net. I remember running back to the halfway line and he is just laughing at me.”
