Former Newcastle assistant manager Terry McDermott hailed Robson's bravery over the duration of his long battle with cancer.

"It's devastating," he told Sky Sports News.

"Everybody knew it was coming. The people who've seen him at the weekend at the charity game, you could see he wasn't a well man. It shows the courage of the man to actually turn up in front of 33,000 people and get the fitting send-off he deserved because he's a fantastic football person.

"Everybody knew he was in trouble and he was going to die but it's still a shock to everybody. Everybody remembers him obviously for being a nice person but what a great football person as well.

"He'll be sadly missed by everyone, not just Newcastle but football in general."

Of his personal memories of Robson, McDermott added: "I've met Bobby on numerous occasions. Eighteen months ago I went to a function in Durham, one of his charity nights. and him and Alex Ferguson came on stage... it was beyond belief how ill he was.

"He just mesmerised everybody, it was a pleasure to be in his company. He always had a story to tell, a very amusing guy. Our hearts go out to his wife and all his family."

Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence said on Sky Sports News: "It's a sad day for football and football people.

"He had such honesty and enthusiasm for the game as a player and manager. Even right up to the very end, when he spoke about football the enthusiasm still shone through how much he loved and cared about the game.

"Since Sir Alf Ramsey England have never been as close to winning the World Cup as we were with Bobby. At the top end of sport, these things are decided by the smallest issues and obviously it went to penalties.

"He certainly made the nation very proud because of the way the team played in that 1990 World Cup."

Robson's assistant as England boss, Don Howe, said: "It is a sad day. When somebody is ill like that you realise what is happening but when it comes it is really shocking to your system.

"Having known him since the 1950s when he was transferred from Fulham to West Brom, where I was already, we just gelled together. We were both similar, we had both got big families to look after and wanted to be successful in football. That's why we got on well together.

"He was a man of standards. Whatever he talked about or did, he had high standards to do the best he could possibly do and he lived his life that way."

Former England defender Paul Parker, who was part of Robson's 1990 World Cup squad, said he was a manager who inspired players to perform.

"When I was with the England side he was a fantastic person to play for. The way he asked you and told you do stuff...you really wanted to do it for the man," Parker told Radio Five Live.

"With his love and his drive you just wanted to perform for him. Everybody loved playing for Bobby, he was one of the few managers everybody took to. He was just a wonderful man to play for."

Robson was also well respected in the cricket world, often attending England matches.

Former England cricket manager Micky Stewart praised his friend's attentiveness.

"He was an enthusiast for the game and had such respect for players. That's gone out of fashion a little these days," he said.

"He loved the game and was a top player as well. He wouldn't miss a ball when he was invited to Test matches. He wasn't one of the prawn sandwich brigade and whatever was going on he would catch the first ball after lunch or tea...he had great respect for sport."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "It's a real shame. Obviously our thoughts go out to his family.

"Anyone who spent any time in his company was enriched. The great thing about Bobby was he made you feel you knew him well.

"He always had time to speak to you and share his passion for the game."

Former England defender Warren Barton, who played under Robson at Newcastle, said on Sky Sports News:

"It's devastating news, he was a great manager and a great man. I hope his legacy continues, he was the best manager I had.

"He was black and white through and through."

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, who played under Robson at the 1986 World Cup, told Sky Sports News: "It's devastating, very sad. Our feelings and thoughts go out to Bobby's family. Obviously for everybody in the football world it's a very, very sad day."

Robson took England to the quarter-finals of the 1986 finals and went one better four years later in Italy only to be knocked out on penalties by West Germany in the semi-finals.

Hoddle continued: "He's the closest we've come to winning the World Cup (since 1966) - that's how good Bobby was.

"In the 1990 World Cup with a little bit more luck and calmness in the penalty shoot-out, who knows what could have happened? He was right up there behind Sir Alf Ramsey in that sense. He was a football man, a very endearing man, quite comical.

"We had a fantastic squad certainly in '86 - who knows what could have happened if the 'hand of God' goal from Maradona didn't happen?

"You can see how respected he was all around the world.

"He was a very open and very honest person. He and Don Howe were closely-knit together in my era of playing under Bobby. He was someone that would talk to you. The lads really did take to him and have respect for what he's done not only in football but off the pitch. He was a very charming man but also a winner.

"I was absolutely amazed to see, when he went back to Newcastle, the passion he had for continuing at Newcastle when he'd done most jobs he wanted to.

"I met up quite a few times with him when he was Newcastle manager and that passion was still there. I think that was still there to this very day. He had a genuine, refreshing love the game. He'll be sadly missed."

Trevor Steven, a member of Robson's England team which reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, said: "It is very sad news.

"I knew he was desperately ill, so in some ways it is not a surprise.

"Bobby was a very important man to me in my career, he gave me my first England cap.

"He was a 100% football man, very enthususiastic and it is that enthusiasm that I will remember him best for, that was his most appealing trait.

"He had some tough times as an England manager but he stuck by his players and gave them his full backing."

Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who worked with Robson during his stint in charge of the Magpies and sacked him after only four games in 2004, stressed how deeply his loss would be felt in the city.

"It's very, very sad, especially here on Tyneside. The whole city will be grieving this morning," he told Radio Five Live.

"He was a great man and he will be sorely missed, certainly in Newcastle.

"I worked every day with him for five years and that's when you see the character of a man. He was certainly the best manager I worked with."

West Brom's chairman Jeremy Peace said: "Everyone at West Bromwich Albion is deeply saddened to hear of Sir Bobby's Robson's passing.

"He was a terrific servant for this football club, which always remained dear to his heart.

"He was a true gentleman in every sense and our sincere condolences go to his family."

Everton issued a statement on their website today following the death of Sir Bobby Robson.

It read: "The players, board of directors, management, staff and supporters of Everton Football Club would like to pass on their most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sir Bobby Robson who died this morning at the age of 76.

"Sir Bobby was a regular visitor to Goodison Park throughout his long and illustrious playing and managerial career and this football club would like to mark the passing of a man of genuine integrity."

Another former England boss, Steve McClaren, revealed Robson had always been on hand to offer advice throughout his time in the national hotseat.

"I had a cup of tea with him a couple of months ago in his home. He was fighting as he always did but you could tell time was passing," said the former Middlesbrough manager.

"To be so successful, but to be so loved by everybody throughout his career... that's special and says something. The game will be worse for Bobby Robson leaving us.

"The passion was still there, it was unbelievable. His mind was still so sharp, so enthusiastic, even at that age and even though he had an illness.

"I saw a programme once on him and the great players around the world adored Sir Bobby Robson because of his sheer passion."

McClaren, now coaching FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie, added: "I know in Holland he's so loved by everybody. You've got to have passion and he had it in abundance.

"He did it the right way. Clubs loved working with him, players loved working with him - such a character.

"I became quite close to Bobby during my England career. I often had talks with him and he gave me great advice.

"He advised me to come over here to Holland, he said 'Get over there, you'll love it'. It's the best advice I've ever had."

The Football Association today released a statement paying tribute to Robson.

"The FA is deeply saddened to hear the news that Sir Bobby Robson passed away this morning," it read.

"The thoughts of all our staff, and indeed the whole of football, are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.

"Sir Bobby will forever be remembered as one of the nation's greatest ever football managers.

"Flags at Soho Square and Wembley Stadium will fly at half mast in honour of Sir Bobby."

FA chief executive Ian Watmore said: "The whole of football loved Bobby Robson as a player, a manager and an ambassador for the game.

"This is a sad day and on behalf of the Football Association I would like to send condolences to his family and thank him for all that he did for England and football in general."

England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce, who played under Sir Bobby for England, added: "It is a massive loss, as a man, and to football.

"I cannot think of anyone in the game who was held in higher esteem. It was an absolute privilege and honour for me to work with him.

"My thoughts are with his family at this time."

Former England striker Gary Lineker, who played under Robson at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, said: "I was deeply saddened to hear of Bobby Robson's death. He was a great football man.

"He had a tremendous enthusiasm and passion for football and life and continued to retain this right to the last days of his life.

"He will be deeply missed by everyone, especially those who played for him. I have the fondest memories of playing for him at two World Cups.

"In recent years he undertook a great deal of work for his cancer charity and raised the profile considerably in addition to the monies raised."

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins said Sir Bobby was a "smashing guy" who "lived his life with humility".

"Everyone had the utmost respect for him," he told Sky News, adding that players were willing to "run through a brick wall" for him.

"He handled people in the right fashion and I think that was his major strength.

"He was a joy to be around."

Former prime minister Tony Blair, a Newcastle supporter, said: "Sir Bobby was one of the nicest, most caring and genuine people I ever met - a real Geordie gentleman.

"He was, of course, an outstanding coach, but he was also immensely generous with his time and energy across a range of charitable activities.

"It was a privilege to have known him."

PSV Eindhoven, the club Robson won back-to-back Dutch titles with in 1991 and 1992, issued a statement on their website www.psv.nl.

"PSV have heard about the sad news that former head coach Sir Bobby Robson passed away this morning at the age of 76 years," the statement said.

"Robson was an icon from British football and he had enormous popularity among our fans.

"The last, warm, meeting between PSV and Robson took place last year in the summer in Newcastle, where PSV played a friendly match in the pre-season against the Magpies.

"Robson came and talked about his memories with everyone from the club, where he worked between 1990 and 1992 and from 1998 to 1999. Despite his already fragile health, Sir Bobby shone and enjoyed seeing PSV one more time."

BBC pundit and former Scotland international Alan Hansen praised Robson's ability to get the best out of his players.

"Bobby took a lot of criticism in 1986 but if you looked at the sides England had in 1982, 2002 or 2006 the players they had in terms of ability were far above those Bobby had," he said.

"Bobby could have won the World Cup in 1990 with what I thought was an average side.

"I had some dealings with him when filming documentaries and he was a bit like Bill Shankly.

"When you spoke with Bill or with Bobby you had a conversation for an hour and a half and you didn't have to say anything.

"He poured the tea and then it was 40 minutes straight off talking about Barcelona or Newcastle or what he was planning. His passion was phenomenal."

A statement from Barcelona fondly remembered Robson's spell at the club, when he won the Spanish Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1997.

"Barcelona is in mourning," it said. "During his period with the club, Robson won the affection of all Cules (Barca supporters).

"He is a true legend of world football."

Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport, said: "Sir Bobby Robson was one of the towering figures of English football.

"His record at club, European and international level speaks for itself.

"He was a much-loved and respected figure who lived and breathed football at every level , and in the right spirit, and his passion for the game was infectious. He will be sorely missed."

North-east rivals Sunderland issued a statement which read: "Sir Bobby, one of the north east's favourite sons and a regular at Sunderland fixtures at the Stadium of Light, transcended the clubs he represented both on and off the field to become a respected figure across the entire world football community,

"The club would like to pass its sincere condolences to Lady Elsie and Sir Bobby's family at this very sad time."

Howard Wilkinson, chairman of the League Managers' Association, said: "My best memories of Bobby are the funny ones, all the more funny because he remained blissfully unaware, nor offended that his faux pas became a source of such fun.

"At one England Under-21 gathering, I selected Shola Ameobi who was a young striker at Newcastle under him. Bobby had also bought at great expense Carl Cort, a striker from Wimbledon.

"Shola had about six Christian names, most of them, to me, unpronounceable and in an attempt to put him at his ease on his debut performance, I called the lad over and asked him what Bobby called him when he was at the club.

"With absolutely no sense of resentment, rather more with a sense of love and understanding, Shola said, 'Carl Cort, mostly'.

"At a time when 'great' and 'world class' are sometimes too freely ascribed, the descriptions underscore Sir Bobby Robson. He was truly a great and world class person."