On the fifth anniversary of the former England manager’s death, one of his greatest players remembers his spontaneity, flexibility and commitment to attacking football

Luís Enrique has paid tribute to Sir Bobby Robson on the fifth anniversary of his death, saying his former manager’s passion for football was inspirational.

The new Barcelona manager played under Robson at the Camp Nou in the 1996-1997 season, when José Mourinho was also at the club, and said it was the Englishman’s spontaneity, flexibility and commitment to attacking football that impressed him most.

“It was a year where we won three trophies, one Cup Winners’ Cup, one Kings Cup, one Spanish Super Cup,” Enrique told TheFA.com on Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day. “It was a difficult season because it was the year after [Johan] Cruyff had left, and Barcelona decided to sign the services of Robson and his great experience. I think he reached the full expectations

“As a manager, he had very clear ideas, with an attacking concept of play and an easy and clear philosophy. His natural way of doing things, being very spontaneous, being capable of managing a group, being able to adapt himself to the high expectations of a big team with different circumstances. I remember that at half-time he used to grab some plastic glasses to show us the tactics and movements he wanted to see. He was a very talented and easy going person.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Barcelona manager Luis Enrique during the training session at St George’s Park, Burton-Upon-Trent. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Robson gave Enrique the opportunity to perform a number of different roles in the Barcelona side and later described the versatile Spaniard as one of his greatest ever players. And the 44-year-old believes his former mentor would have been delighted to see him go into management.

“I don’t think it would be a surprise to him. He was a real football man,” said the former Celta Vigo and Roma manager, who was speaking as Barcelona trained at St George’s Park. “It’s very normal to see ex-footballers becoming managers but I don’t think anything would surprise him. Maybe it was the way he used to see football in his era and the way we see football, with passion. I think he could see himself reflected in us, in the way we approach and understand football.

“I started playing as a defender and when he used to give me opportunities to play as a striker I used to score goals and he always used to talk highly of me. I used to appreciate his words of praise, because it was my first year at Barcelona, a very important year for me, and I have to say, I always had a good relationship with him and he always had good things to say about me and that’s always nice.”