Sir Bobby Robson dies, 76
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.
