Sir Bobby Robson, an ambassador for everything that is good about the game of football, died at the age of 76, having left an impression on generations of football fans and players alike.

The most successful England manager since 1966's World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey, Robson is undoubtedly one of the most popular sporting icons in Britain.

In a distinguished career that spanned over 50 years, Robson worked in England, Spain, Holland and Portugal as one of a select group of English managers to enjoy successful abroad. The European Super Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup are just a handful of the many honours to which he can lay claim, not to mention personal accolades including a knighthood and a CBE.

Time and again he proved his resilience and determination to succeed not just in the dug-out but in his personal life too. First diagnosed with cancer in 1991, he battled five separate bouts of the disease in the eighteen years since.

Despite invasive treatments, Sir Bobby did not allow his sickness to slow him down, even setting up the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to raise money for cancer research in 2006, once he had been confirmed as terminally ill.

Rarely seen without a heart warming smile on his face, Sir Bobby approached life with a positive attitude. Even when he was told the disease was finally going to beat him, he said: "I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute."

The son of a coal miner, Robson was born in County Durham in 1933. He was raised as a Newcastle United fan, frequently attending matches at St James' Park. After training as an electrician's apprentice, he accepted his first professional playing contract with Fulham in 1950.

His playing career took him to West Bromwich Albion and Canada's Vancouver Royals, as well as a second spell with the Cottagers, not to mention making 20 appearances for the England national team.

In 1968 he returned to Craven Cottage for a third spell, this time as the club's manager. In his first season in charge, Robson was unable to save the struggling club from relegation to the Second Division, and parted company with them the following season.

His next move saw him join Ipswich Town in 1969, where he proved his undoubted talents as a manager. In a reign that lasted 13 years, Robson guided the Tractor Boys to eight top-six finishes, an FA Cup Final win in 1978 and a UEFA Cup victory in 1981. He was honoured for his achievements with a statute outside the club's Portman Road ground in 2002. Four years later he was also named Ipswich's honorary president.

Following his success with Ipswich, Robson was offered the position of England manager, taking up the post in 1982. After failing to qualify for the 1984 European Championships, Robson finally had the chance to take England to a major tournament when they qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

After a slow start in the finals, Robson and his team rallied, qualifying for the quarter-finals with victory against Paraguay. The last-eight tie saw them come up against Argentina, striking sensation Maradona and that "Hand of God" goal.

Having been denied a place in the semis, Robson said: "It wasn't the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal."

Two years later, England were knocked out at the group stage of Euro 1988, before qualifying for the 1990 World Cup with ease. England topped their group, before beating Belgium and Cameroon to set up a semi-final with old rivals West Germany, where Robson suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat.

That tournament saw Bobby Robson become the most successful England manager in a generation, coming the closest to lifting a major trophy since Sir Alf Ramsey's side lifted the World Cup in 1966.

Prior to the tournament, Robson had been told that his contract with the FA would not be renewed. He joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, with whom he won the Dutch League in successive seasons between 1991 and 1992. It was at Eindhoven where Robson achieved a massive coup, bringing Brazilian ace Ronaldo to the club.

Next, he was appointed manager of Portugal's Sporting Lisbon in July 1992, where he met future Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who acted as his interpreter. Robson guided the club to a third place finish in his first term in charge. Just months later, in December 1993, Robson was sacked, with the club sitting at the top of the table for the first time in a decade and a half.

He quickly joined Sporting's rivals FC Porto. Mourinho joined him as assistant manager and enjoyed successive league titles wins between 1995 and 1996. It was during this time that he was first diagnosed with cancer, a malignant melanoma and as a result, he missed the first few months of the 1995-96 season. In spite of this, Robson still successfully led Porto in defence of their league title.

In the summer of 1996, he joined Spanish side FC Barcelona, ensuring that Mourinho moved with him as his assistant as a condition of his employment. While at Barca, Robson enjoyed several trophy wins, including the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup, and was voted European Manager of the Year for 1996-97.

When Ruud Gullit resigned as manager from Robson's beloved Newcastle United, the former England manager was appointed manager of the Magpies in September 1999. His first match in charge of the bottom of the table club saw Newcastle wallop second from bottom Sheffield Wednesday 8-0. In that first season, he led the club to 11th in the league.

In 2001-02, he saw the club finish fourth, ensuring a European adventure in the form of the Champions League. The following season they went one better, finishing third and qualifyied for the Champions League for the second successive season.

But with the club unable to progress through the competition's qualifying rounds, Robson's side took part in the UEFA Cup. In 2003-04, the club finished fifth in the top-flight, missing out on Champions League qualification altogether.

After a poor start to the 2004-05 season, Robson parted company with the club.

His final position in football was with the Republic of Ireland national team, in a support role of International Football Consultant to then manager Steve Staunton, a position which he held between January 2006 and November 2007.

He made his last public appearance on Sunday 26th July, when in honour of the foundation he set up in aid of cancer research, members of the England team that played against West Germany in Italia '90 took to the pitch against some of their German rivals and specials guests.

His lasting legacy will not only be the enthusiasm with which he approached every aspect of football, but also the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which has raised well over £1m for research in to cancer treatment.

Sir Bobby died at his home in County Durham with his family around him, aged 76. He is survived by his wife Elsie and their sons Andrew, Paul and Mark.

For a gallery of Sir Bobby Robson's career, click here

For more information on the Sir Bobby Robson foundation, click here