English Premier League

Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76.

Robson died at his home in County Durham following a long battle against cancer - it was the fifth bout he had fought in 17 years. His wife Elsie was by his bedside.

The son of a Durham coal miner, Robson trained as an apprentice electrician at the colliery before signing for Fulham as a 17-year-old.

He went on to play for West Brom - and England too, 20 times - but it was as a manager that he really left his mark on the game, with Ipswich, Barcelona and Newcastle among others, and of course England.

He was England's most successful manager after Sir Alf Ramsey. In the 1982 World Cup his side fell victim to a complicated second group stage and exited the tournament without losing a single match.

In the 1986 World Cup England were defeated by Argentina in the quarter-finals, thanks in large part to Diego Maradona's infamous 'hand of God' goal.

Four years later, Robson took England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Italy before losing on penalties to West Germany.

After England, Robson managed abroad, at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon and Porto before Barcelona beckoned. At Sporting, he plucked Jose Mourinho to be first his interpreter and then his assistant, and he followed Robson to both Porto and Barcelona before establishing a career of his own.

Robson's first managerial job had been with Fulham in 1968, though it was at Ipswich - whom he joined a year later - where he emerged as one of the greats, leading them to FA Cup and UEFA Cup triumphs.

Yet it was not until 1999, 31 years after he first became a manager, that Robson took the job he always seemed destined for: Newcastle United's manager.

A successful five-year spell saw the Magpies qualify twice for the Champions League but in 2004 he was dismissed after a poor start to the season.

Robson had beaten cancer on a number of occasions - bowel cancer in 1992, a malignant melanoma in 1995, and a tumour in his right lung and a brain tumour, both in 2006. Last year he launched the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to raise money for cancer research.

A statement issued on behalf of his family said: "It is with great sadness that it has been announced that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer.

"He died very peacefully 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.''