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Paul Robinson (footballer, born December 1978)

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For other footballers named Paul Robinson, see Paul Robinson (disambiguation).

Paul Robinson
Robinson with Birmingham City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Paul Peter Robinson[1]
Date of birth (1978-12-14) 14 December 1978 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth Watford, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2003 Watford 219 (8)
2003–2010 West Bromwich Albion 214 (4)
2009–2010 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 10 (0)
2010–2012 Bolton Wanderers 67 (0)
2012 → Leeds United (loan) 10 (0)
2012–2018 Birmingham City 158 (3)
Total 678 (15)
International career
1999 England U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Peter Robinson (born 14 December 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-sided defender. Also capable of playing at centre-back, he represented five clubs in the Premier League and Football League between 1996 and 2018. He was capped three times for the England under-21 team in 1999.

Robinson began his professional career at Division Two side Watford in 1996, and made 252 appearances for the club, before moving to Division One side West Bromwich Albion in October 2003. He made 238 appearances for West Brom, before joining Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in July 2009, initially on loan, and then on a permanent transfer at the start of the 2010–11 season. Having made 87 appearances for Bolton, he went on loan to Championship side Leeds United in March 2012, where he made ten appearances. He was released by Bolton at the end of the 2011–12 season, and joined his final club, Birmingham City, on a free transfer in September 2012.

Early and personal life

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Robinson was born in Watford, Hertfordshire,[3] and attended St. Michael's Catholic High School in Garston.[4] He captained their football team to the English Schools' Football Association Under-16s Cup Final at Prenton Park, the home of Tranmere Rovers, in 1995.[5]

Robinson is married to Caroline.[4] As of October 2010, they have three sons, Luke, Jamie and Archie.[6]

Career

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Watford

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Robinson began his football career in the youth system of his hometown town club, Watford. He made his first-team debut as a second-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Luton Town on 29 October 1996, aged 17.[3] He went on to make 12 more appearances that season. In Watford's Division Two Championship-winning season of 1997–98, Robinson was in and out of the side. He often played when the side reverted to the 4–4–2 formation from their usual 3–5–2. In 1998–99, with the club playing 4–4–2, Robinson became a regular half-way through the season and featured in the club's run to the play-offs.

In a match against Port Vale on 29 April 1999, Robinson made a poor tackle on Vale player Stewart Talbot, breaking both bones in Talbot's lower leg. The injury kept Talbot out of the game for 10 months and resulted in a "six-figure" out-of-court settlement.[7] Out of 252 Watford appearances he was booked 63 times and sent off three times. One of these sendings off came in the 1998–99 play-off semi-final against Birmingham City, which saw him miss the second leg. He did feature, however, in the club's 2–0 play-off victory against future employers Bolton Wanderers.

Robinson made 32 appearances for Watford in their 1999–2000 FA Premier League season, and stayed with the club when they were relegated to Division One, making a further 124 league appearances for Watford in the second tier over the next four seasons[8] and taking his totals to nine goals from 252 appearances in all competitions.[9]

West Bromwich Albion

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In October 2003 Robinson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for an initial £250,000 fee, potentially rising to £375,000 depending on appearances and Albion being promoted to the Premiership.[10] He made his West Brom debut in a 1–0 win against Norwich City on 18 October.[11]

Robinson was touted as a potential England left back by Bryan Robson and others.[12] His first goal for West Brom was an injury-time headed equaliser at Villa Park in April 2005,[13] which earned him the club's Goal of the Season award.[14] The draw was one of several key results that enabled Albion's "Great Escape" from relegation.

In June 2006 Watford attempted to re-sign the player from West Brom for £1.4 million; however, this bid was rejected by manager Robson and chairman Jeremy Peace, as Robinson was considered vital if the team was to realise its ambition of a quick return to the Premier League.[15] Robinson signed a new three-year contract with the club in July 2006.[16]

On 28 October 2006, Birmingham City captain Damien Johnson's jaw was broken in two places in a collision with Robinson during a local derby, for which he received a straight red card. The incident drew criticism from Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, who believed Robinson's use of the elbow to be a deliberate act.[17]

Robinson was the subject of a £1.5 million bid from Premier League team Wigan Athletic in August 2007 as a replacement for Leighton Baines, who had been sold to Everton. The move fell through when he failed a medical.[18] In early November he was named in the Championship Team of the Week following Albion's 3–0 win at his former club Watford.[19] He made the Team of the Week once again after Albion's 4–3 home win against Colchester United in March 2008.[20] Robinson was named in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Championship Team of the Year, alongside teammates Jonathan Greening and Kevin Phillips,[21] after helping Albion win promotion to the Premier League as league champions.

Bolton Wanderers

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On 12 July 2009, Robinson completed a season-long loan move to Bolton Wanderers, where he was reunited with his former manager Gary Megson.[22] The player explained that he had joined Bolton on a three-year contract, the first year being on loan and the deal to become permanent in the summer of 2010 when Bolton would pay West Brom a fee of £1 million.[23] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland on 15 August. The deal was made permanent in January 2010.[24] He made 25 league appearances in the first season,[25] and 35 in the following season,[26] but fell out of favour in the 2011–12 Premier League season, only making 20 appearances in total for the club.[27]

Leeds United (loan)

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On 6 March 2012, Robinson joined Leeds United on a month's loan.[27] He was an unused substitute for their away game at Hull City the same day,[28] and made his debut in their 2–0 win at Middlesbrough on 11 March.[29] Robinson's loan was extended to the end of the season.[30] He was omitted from the last game of Leeds' season, because manager Neil Warnock was unwilling to risk his suffering injury in a "nothing" game as they were unlikely to sign him permanently. He returned to Bolton and was available for their last few matches,[31] but was released when his contract expired at the end of the season, along with 11 other players, following the club's relegation from the Premier League.[32]

Birmingham City

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Playing for Birmingham in 2012

After training with MLS side Toronto FC[33] and then with Championship club Birmingham City, Robinson signed a one-month contract with the latter in September 2012 after injuries had left the club with only two fit senior defenders.[34] He made his debut in the starting eleven in a 1–0 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion on 29 September.[35] After four appearances, and with the team still weakened in defence by injury, he was given a second month's contract,[36] and then a further two months after left-back David Murphy suffered knee damage.[37] When that deal expired, and despite the club's financial difficulties, his contract was extended until the end of the season.[38] He finished the season playing at centre-half alongside Curtis Davies, having stood in for the injured Steven Caldwell and retained his place after Caldwell's return to fitness, and made 37 appearances in all competitions.[39][40]

Robinson signed a one-year contract, with an option for a further year, ahead of the 2013–14 season,[40] and was appointed both club and team captain for the 2013–14 season.[41] He scored his first goal for the club – and his first goal for nearly five years – to open the scoring in a 3–0 defeat of Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup on 14 January 2014.[42] In April 2014, with Birmingham battling relegation, he incurred a three-game suspension for receiving 15 bookings in the season,[43] returning for the final day of the season as the Blues avoided relegation with a 2–2 draw at his former club Bolton. He won the club's Player of the Year award for that season.[44]

In May 2014, it was announced he had agreed a player/coaching role with Birmingham.

Robinson was given a three-match ban after he was "seen to aim a kick" at Aston Villa captain James Chester in April 2017. The incident was missed by the match officials and dealt with using video evidence.[45]

In February 2018, Robinson announced that he would retire at the end of the 2017–18 season.[46] He made a brief appearance in Birmingham's last game of the season, as a 91st-minute substitute in their 3–1 victory over Fulham.[47]

Coaching career

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After 175 first-team appearances at Birmingham City, he retired as a player in 2018 but remained with the club as assistant senior professional development coach working with the U23 team,[48] and in June 2019 was appointed lead professional development coach, a post that included responsibility for the under-18s.[49] He left the club in August 2020.[50]

On 1 July 2021, he was appointed as first-team coach at Millwall working alongside Gary Rowett, one of his former managers at Birmingham.[51] After leaving Millwall in November 2023,[52] In March 2024, Robinson was named first-team technical coach of Birmingham City to assist Rowett, newly appointed as interim manager until the end of the season.[53][54]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Watford 1996–97[55][56] Division Two 12 0 3 0 0 0 2[a] 0 17 0
1997–98[57] Division Two 22 2 2 0 0 0 1[a] 0 25 2
1998–99[58] Division One 29 0 1 0 2 0 2[b] 0 34 0
1999–2000[59] Premier League 32 0 1 0 3 0 — 36 0
2000–01[8] Division One 39 0 1 0 4 0 — 44 0
2001–02[60] Division One 38 3 0 0 5 1 — 43 4
2002–03[61] Division One 37 3 4 0 1 0 — 42 3
2003–04[62] Division One 10 0 — 1 0 — 11 0
Total 219 8 12 0 16 1 5 0 252 9
West Bromwich Albion 2003–04[62] Division One 31 0 1 0 — — 32 0
2004–05[63] Premier League 30 1 3 0 0 0 — 33 1
2005–06[64] Premier League 33 0 1 0 2 0 — 36 0
2006–07[65] Championship 42 2 4 0 3 0 3[c] 0 52 2
2007–08[66] Championship 43 1 4 0 1 0 — 48 1
2008–09[67] Premier League 35 0 2 1 0 0 — 37 1
Total 214 4 15 1 6 0 3 0 238 5
Bolton Wanderers 2009–10[25] Premier League 25 0 2 0 0 0 — 27 0
2010–11[26] Premier League 35 0 5 0 0 0 — 40 0
2011–12[68] Premier League 17 0 2 0 1 0 — 20 0
Total 77 0 9 0 1 0 — 87 0
Leeds United 2011–12[68] Championship 10 0 — — — 10 0
Birmingham City 2012–13[35] Championship 35 0 2 0 — — 37 0
2013–14[69] Championship 40 0 2 1 4 0 — 46 1
2014–15[70] Championship 34 0 1 0 1 0 — 36 0
2015–16[71] Championship 25 3 0 0 2 0 — 27 3
2016–17[72] Championship 22 0 2 0 1 0 — 25 0
2017–18[73] Championship 2 0 0 0 2 0 — 4 0
Total 158 3 7 1 10 0 — 175 4
Career total 678 15 43 2 33 1 8 0 762 18
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League First Division play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Championship play-offs

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 357. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "Birmingham City FC Player Profiles: Paul Robinson". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Robbo: Hornets baptism shaped my career". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 2 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Charity: Robbo's Cycle Challenge". Watford F.C. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Catholic teams share English schools football cup trophy". Catholic Herald. 26 May 1995. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Paul Robinson hails Albion boss". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  7. ^ Harris, Nick (29 November 2003). "Football: 'Independent' survey assists injured player's legal case". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Gone but not forgotten: Paul Robinson". Blind, Stupid and Desperate. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Robinson joins West Brom". BBC Sport. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  11. ^ "WBA vs Norwich City". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 18 October 2003. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  12. ^ O'Rourke, Peter. "Robbo tips Robinson for England". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Aston Villa 1–1 West Brom". BBC Sport. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Wallwork wins Player-of-the-Year award". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 18 May 2005. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Baggies reject Watford's bid to re-sign Robinson". ESPN FC. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Robinson extends West Brom stay". BBC Sport. 18 July 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  17. ^ "Birmingham skipper fractures jaw". BBC Sport. 29 October 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  18. ^ Fraser, Peter (7 August 2007). "Wigan renew Robinson bid". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week (05/11/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week (31/03/2008)" (PDF). The Football League. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Ronaldo named player of the year". BBC Sport. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  22. ^ "West Bromwich's Paul Robinson signs loan deal for Bolton". The Guardian. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  23. ^ Iles, Marc (14 July 2009). "I'm a Wanderers player, says Robinson". The Bolton News. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Robinson makes permanent Bolton switch". Yahoo! Eurosport. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Leeds United sign Paul Robinson on loan from Bolton". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  28. ^ "Hull 0–0 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  29. ^ Jurejko, Jonathan (11 March 2012). "Middlesbrough 0–2 Leeds United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Defender Robinson stays on". Leeds United A.F.C. 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012.
  31. ^ "Robbo move "unlikely" – boss". Leeds United A.F.C. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012.
  32. ^ "Bolton release 12 players as relegation from Premier League bites, but Kevin Davies signs new deal". The Telegraph. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  33. ^ "Robinson goes for Toronto talks". Sky Sports. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  34. ^ Walker, Andy (25 September 2012). "Robinson recruited". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  36. ^ Walker, Andy (25 October 2012). "Robbo stay extended". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  37. ^ "Robbo stay extended as Murphy sidelined". Birmingham City F.C. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  38. ^ "Birmingham City: Paul Robinson agrees new contract". BBC Sport. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  39. ^ "Birmingham City: Steven Caldwell to go in St Andrew's shake-up". BBC Sport. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  40. ^ a b "Birmingham City: Paul Robinson signs new one-year Blues deal". BBC Sport. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  41. ^ "Robbo ticks all the boxes". Birmingham City F.C. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  42. ^ "Birmingham 3–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Birmingham City captain Paul Robinson suspended for three games". Birmingham Mail. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  44. ^ "Robbo's double delight at #PA14". Birmingham City F.C. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014.
  45. ^ "Paul Robinson: Birmingham City captain to serve three-game ban after Villa incident". BBC Sport. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  46. ^ "Paul Robinson: Birmingham City defender to retire at the end of the season". BBC Sport. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  47. ^ "Birmingham City 3–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  48. ^ "Paul Robinson: Assistant senior professional development coach". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  49. ^ "Paul Robinson: Lead professional development coach". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  50. ^ "Farewell to Robbo". Birmingham City F.C. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  51. ^ "Paul Robinson joins as first-team coach". Millwall F.C. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  52. ^ "Paul Robinson mutually agrees Millwall departure". Millwall F.C. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Gary Rowett adds to backroom staff". Birmingham City F.C. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  54. ^ Dicken, Alex (9 May 2024). "Paul Robinson makes Birmingham City offer after leaving with Gary Rowett". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  55. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  56. ^ "96/97: Fixtures". Blind Stupid and Desperate. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  57. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  58. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  59. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  60. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  61. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  62. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  63. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  64. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  65. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  66. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  67. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  68. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  69. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  70. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  71. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  72. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  73. ^ "Games played by Paul Robinson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  74. ^ "Ronaldo named player of the year". BBC Sport. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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