José Gomes: Bobby Robson was a symbol of what English football means

It has taken Reading’s latest manager the best part of 25 years to land a job in England, an ambition he struck on the touchline at Porto’s training ground

For a young football coach in Portugal’s second city during the mid-1990s the choice between university classes and a trip to FC Porto’s practice pitches barely registered. José Gomes would not think twice about skipping an afternoon’s studies when he heard a training session was open; he was spellbound by the famous English manager who had taken over at the club he loved and, in his words, “it was like time stopped” as he stood at the side and watched the old master put the players through their paces.

Gomes is hardly alone in having a Sir Bobby Robson story but the feelings stirred by those glimpses of his work have particular resonance. A month has passed since Gomes was appointed manager of Reading and it was while watching Robson during that 1994-95 season that he resolved to make working in England his ultimate goal.

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