Where does Bryan Robson go from here? Captain Marvel in his playing days, as an inspirational figure with West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United and England, the first time Robson left a managerial posting of stature, it took him three years to return to the game — with Bradford City, where he lasted six months.

His achievements with Middlesbrough, whom he guided to two promotions and three cup finals in six years, drew praise from Gareth Southgate, the incumbent at the Riverside, yesterday. “Everybody who worked with him here loved him and they all still think the world of him,” Southgate said. “Together with the chairman, he put this club on the map.”

But the only other gold mark on his CV was the great escape achieved with West Brom in 2004-05. Having risked his legendary status at The Hawthorns, he remoulded the team’s style and personnel inside six months as they became the first club who were bottom of the Premier League at Christmas to avoid relegation. Robson was unable to sustain the momentum, however, and Albion were relegated 12 months later. By the next September, despite the club’s position near the top of the Coca-Cola Championship, he was dismissed.

Neil Warnock urged, as he left with the club’s goodwill upon their relegation last May, that supporters should give his successor time. Robson has been unable to impose his own image on the club and paid the price yesterday.

As Sheffield United, with one win in ten matches, prepare to face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Sunday, Southgate paid tribute. “Lots of people have knocked him over the last few years, but he had a huge impact on this club,” Southgate said. “He was the one who was able to attract Juninho, Ravanelli and people like that. Without his stature in the game, I don’t think that would have happened. He was in charge during that period where the club moved to a new stadium, a new training ground and got to three cup finals. The club owe him a great debt.”