Paul Gascoigne, the former England midfielder whose tears became one of the iconic images of the 1990 World Cup, admitted he could not stop crying when he learned his former manager Bobby Robson had finally lost his long fight against cancer yesterday.
Gascoigne broke into the England team while Robson, a fellow Geordie, was in charge and was one of the stars of the 1990 tournament as England reached the semi-finals.
He was booked in the match against West Germany and could not hold back the tears as he realised he would be suspended for the final, although England never made it as they lost out on penalties.
Robson helped console Gascoigne after the match and the 42-year-old former Newcastle, Tottenham and Lazio midfielder was even more emotional after learning of his old mentor's death.
Gascoigne last night told ITV News: ‘I'm speechless. I'm devastated. Bobby was like my second dad. I was like a son to him.
‘I can't describe how much he meant to me. I've just been crying for three hours, and I've come to see my mum and my dad. It's just unbelievable.
‘He gave me a chance to play in the World Cup. I can't really talk that much because I just want to cry, that's all.
‘I love him. And his wife Elsie - I'll always be there for her. I'm sort of numb.’
