Steve McClaren: "I had a cup of tea with him a couple of months ago in his home. He was fighting as he always did but you could tell time was passing.
"To be so successful, but to be so loved by everybody throughout his career... that's special and says something. The game will be worse for Bobby Robson leaving us.
"The passion was still there, it was unbelievable. His mind was still so sharp, so enthusiastic, even at that age and even though he had an illness.
"I saw a programme once on him and the great players around the world adored Sir Bobby Robson because of his sheer passion."