Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has admitted that he “realised” he couldn’t play in the Premier League anymore after crossing paths with two former players.
Bryan Robson is Manchester United’s longest-serving captain and the former Red Devils star is one of the best skippers in the Premier League club’s history.
The 67-year-old former midfielder retained the captain’s armband at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson as United manager in 1986.
Robson made a whopping 439 appearances for the Red Devils and ‘Captain Marvel’ was an influential figure under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The United legend lifted two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup with the Red Devils during his prolific playing spell.
Robson left Old Trafford in 1994 and completed a move to Middlesbrough, with the former England and United midfielder later retiring in 1997.
Man Utd legend Robson on two opponents
Bryan Robson took his first steps into management during his spell with Middlesbrough, with the Manchester United legend signing as a player-manager.
The former Three Lions international held several managerial roles in his career post-player, including leading Bradford City and West Brom.
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Robson admitted that he was in for a rude awakening during his spell with Middlesbrough.
The ex-West Brom and United midfielder was in the tail end of his playing career when he crossed paths with Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright.
And Robson claimed that he “couldn’t walk for three days” after his encounter with Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright on the pitch.
“I played until days short of my 40th birthday,” he said.
“I played one game for Middlesbrough away at Arsenal and put myself at centre-half, where I had to mark Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright.
“They finished me off. I couldn’t walk for three days afterwards – couldn’t walk at all. I realised then there was no way I could play in the Premier League at 40.”
Robson’s legacy praised by Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson holds Robson in high esteem and the legendary former United manager called ‘Captain Marvel’ his best captain of all time.
“Well, he was easily the best captain I had,” he said at a Q&A session in 2021.
“I think over the period he was at United he was the best player.”
Ferguson added: “The players loved him. They responded to him and he was the longest-serving captain in my time anyway.
“It’s difficult for a captain because sometimes he has to tell the truth to players, you know?
“The encouragement he’s got to give them sometimes can be quite volatile and he was like that, but the players did love him.
“They appreciated the time he took on them and another thing, he’s the only captain I knew who could make a decision on the pitch. He didn’t need to look over to me.
“He would do that and that’s unusual. In fact, it’s very unusual because he had the balls to do that.”
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