Alan Pardew, and Paul Gascoigne were among those who paid tribute to Sir Bobby Robson as a statue of the Newcastle legend was unveiled ahead of Newcastle's last home game of the season.
Sir Bobby's wife Lady Elsie unveiled the statue which is at the south-west corner of the stadium.
Among the family, friends and former colleagues of Sir Bobby, were some of his former players, coaching staff and representatives from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
Paul Gascoigne, who famously said Sir Bobby was ‘like a Dad’ to him, spoke to Sky Tyne and Wear at the event.
He said: “It is just fantastic just to see him standing there. Wherever he went he was such a genius and such a gentleman.”
Nikos Dabizas was part of Robson’s Newcastle side that reached the Champions League in 2002.
The now retired defender is gaining his coaching badges back home in Greece and hopes for a career in management.
He said: “He was the best manager I played under and he will be an inspiration for me.”
Robson has also inspired former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clarke who has since turned his hand at management.
He said: “You can only learn from people like him. He had that much knowledge, he was a fantastic man.”
Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was also there to see the bronze sculpture.
He said: “Even Newcastle fans would admit there are people in Ipswich who would regard him as their own, in Holland and Portugal too.
“I’m here because the people in Sunderland would back all those people up too and say he was just one of the great icons in our modern era of football.”
Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias said: “We have always been looking to do it.
“It was just getting the right timing to make sure we had the right ideas and influence from Sir Bobby’s family.”
Sir Bobby’s son Andrew Robson said: “It is fitting that this statue has been erected today.
“It’s facing directly South as a symbol of all the work my Father did so I’m proud really.”
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