PAUL ROBINSON
CLUBS
1998-2004 Leeds
2004-08 Tottenham
2008-15 Blackburn
2016-17 Burnley
COUNTRY
2003-07 England
Daleks get everywhere these days – even Harrogate. FourFourTwo hadn’t expected to see a Doctor Who villain patrolling the pavement this Thursday morning. Dodging the local antiques shop’s star attraction, we walk on towards the Hotel du Vin and our rendezvous with Paul Robinson, who spent a career trying to exterminate the hopes of opposition strikers.
It’s been two years since a back injury forced the former England goalkeeper to hang up his gloves, and he’s looking relaxed as he greets us. He has recently returned from one of his regular trips to Qatar, where he works on beIN Sports alongside Richard Keys and Andy Gray.
Retirement has also allowed Robinson to spend more time with his family. Tonight he’s going to watch a cricket match featuring his 11-year-old son, Jack, who is also a budding goalkeeper in Leeds United’s academy. A proud father, Robinson has agreed to answer FFT readers’ questions about his career in order to give his children another memento of his time in football.
“It’s easier for them to see this than for me to sit them down and say, ‘This is what your dad did’,” the 39-year-old explains. “This interview is for my kids.”
In terms of career highlights, Leeds’ draw with Barcelona in the 2000-01 Champions League must be your best performance, right? You were brilliant.
Sean Teague, Leeds
It was the performance that shaped my career. I was thrust into the team: Nigel Martyn got injured and then Mark Beeney ruptured his Achilles. I just felt unbeatable that night – it turned into the Robinson vs Rivaldo show! He finally scored in the 94th minute. To concede at the end was disappointing, but that performance put me in the public eye.
We had some very special European nights that season. The highlight was drawing with Milan at the San Siro to get through to the second group phase. So many Leeds fans travelled, and by qualifying we knocked out Barcelona.
Who’s the best you ever played with?
Dan Mckay, via Twitter
For all-round natural ability, Steven Gerrard. If your left-back didn’t turn up, he could play left-back. He could play any position. You’d want him on your five-a-side team. Paul Scholes was up there – and for ability Dimitar Berbatov was up there, too, even if his work rate and application wasn’t always.
During your time at Spurs, what was it like when Edgar Davids arrived? Did you ever see him lose his rag?
Frederick Johnson, Reigate
Edgar was a model professional: first one in the gym, last one out of the gym. He was a great No, he’s a lot smaller than me, so I could keep him at arm’s length! He and Robbie Keane always had ding-dongs on the training ground, through nothing more than a passion to win. If Edgar’s team lost a five-a-side game, he’d go and sit in a corner. He’d be fine in 10 minutes.
