And it’s fair to say it was some ride with the knight of the realm at the helm at St James’s Park.
Champions League football, a trip to Wembley and a run to the UEFA Cup semi-final – Robson’s reign had everything but silverware in it.
Here’s 25 memorable moments in Robson’s time of Tyneside, as remembered by our NUFC writer Liam Kennedy.
17. Into the semi-finals - Gary Speed rises highest at the Gallowgate End
Gary Speed of Newcastle United (11) scores the winning goal during the UEFA Cup Quarter Final Second Leg match between Newcastle United and PSV Eindhoven at St James Park on April 14, 2004 in Newcastle, England. | Getty Images Photo: Shaun Botterill
18. Didier Drogba'd
Marseille's Ivorian forward Didier Drogba (L) vies with Newcastle's Hugo Viana during their UEFA Cup semi-final second leg football match, 06 May 2004 at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. OM won 2-0 on aggregate - Drogba got both. There was to be no final for United. | Getty Images Photo: FRANCK FIFE
19. The beginning of the end?
Newcastle United scraped into Europe on the final day of the season with a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Shola Ameobi got the goal. But the summer was to be full of rumour and conjecture about the future of Bobby Robson on Tyneside. | Getty Images Photo: Clive Brunskill
20. The Boro bench incident - August 14, 2004
Kieron Dyer (pictured) did not want to play on the right against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2004 season. This was the day many outwardly began to talk about Robson losing the dressing room. | Getty Images Photo: AFP/Getty Images