Robson appointed by Sheffield Utd

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SHEFFIELD, England (Reuters) -- Former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson was named as manager of relegated Sheffield United on Tuesday.

Robson replaces Neil Warnock, who left the club my mutual agreement last week,last week following United's relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the season.

"I'm delighted to come back with such an ambitious squad," Robson said. "It's a great challenge. We have some good players and with just a bit of fine-tuning they have a great chance of getting back up, but it will take a lot of hard work."

Robson has been out of the game since he left West Bromwich Albion by mutual consent in September. He has also managed Middlesbrough, steering them to the top flight in 1995.

He will be assisted by Brian Kidd, a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who has been at Sheffield United in a coaching role since September.

Robson had an outstanding playing career with West Bromwich, Manchester United and England, despite suffering a crop of fractures and dislocations which kept him on the sidelines for lengthy spells.

When he went to Old Trafford from West Bromwich in 1981 the fee of £1.75 million ($1.96 million) was a British record and was not surpassed for six years.

He made 345 appearances for United, scoring 74 goals. He also cored 26 goals in 90 games for England, one of the most memorable coming after 27 seconds of the opening match in the 1982 World Cup, against France.

Robson joined Middlesbrough as player-manager and made a good start when they won the Division One title to move into the Premiership.

The club switched from Ayresome Park to a new stadium at the Riverside, and made some big name signings, including Brazilians Juninho and Emerson and Italian Fabrizo Ravanelli.

Runners-up

In 1997 they were runners-up in both domestic cup competitions but they key event of the campaign was their decision not to fulfil a league fixture because of major injury problems.

They had three points deducted and were relegated as a consequence.

Robson took them back to the Premiership but in 1996 he resigned and then had a brief unsuccessful spell with Bradford.

In 2004 he returned to West Bromwich but was constantly battling relegation. After one miraculous last-day escape they went down the following season and then struggled in the Championship.

Albion won only 19 of 81 games under Robson and he has plenty of critics to silence as he embarks on his new venture at Bramall Lane.

Nevertheless Sheffield United believe he is the man for the job.

"We believe he is the manager who will blend the squad and improve Sheffield United and lead us back to where we rightfully belong, in the Premiership, in a short space of time," Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said.

"He will have the support of the board to fulfill that ambition. We aim to be in the top 10 in the Premiership at least within the next three to five years."

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