Born on this day is former Wales international and Sunderland midfielder Carl Robinson, who played for SAFC on loan before signing permanently.
Born in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, Robinson moved to England as a youngster and came through Wolves' academy. He played almost 200 games for their first team, playing for Wolves in the Championship as they regularly pushed for promotion. Robinson was part of their memorable run to the 1997/98 FA Cup semi-final, where they were defeated by eventual winners Arsenal.
He moved down south to Portsmouth in 2002, but was loaned out several times and made just 16 appearances for Pompey. Having failed to find form on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, Walsall, Rotherham and Sheffield United, his last loan spell was to Mick McCarthy's Sunderland. He was 27 years old at the time, and was signed on deadline day to strengthen our promotion hopes.
Despite the Lads failing to get promoted in that 2003/04 season, Robinson was widely expected to sign permanently after McCarthy didn't renew the contracts of former club captain Jason McAteer, or the long-serving Paul Thirlwell.
After signing permanently on a free transfer, Robinson said: "From a personal point of view this is a fantastic move for me and my family and we're looking forward to settling in the North-East. I'm pleased to have signed for Sunderland. The chance to play football here is a dream come true. This now gives me the chance to play for one of the biggest and best-supported clubs in Britain. I think Mick McCarthy is one of the best managers in the game and I'm really looking forward to working with him on a permanent basis. He has got masses of experience and I'm sure I will improve as a player under his coaching."
He made 40 league starts as we stormed the Championship, and reached the Premier League - earning a reputation as a tidy midfielder who could keep the ball really well. It was Robinson who got on the end of a Liam Lawrence cross against Stoke to secure a 1-0 win that ensured we would be Champions. We would lift the title and finish the season seven points clear of Wigan Athletic in second.
Robinson signed a new two-year contract in the summer of 2005 as a reward for his impressive performances. But after starting the first three Premiership matches he lost his place in the side, featuring only sporadically from the bench.
That led to a loan move to Norwich City at the end of November, and in January 2006 the move was made permanent. It was the first time a club had paid money for Robinson, costing the Canaries a rumoured £50,000.
He was never that popular at Norwich, and was allowed to join Toronto in the MLS for free despite having 18 months left on his contract in January 2007. It was in America where his career wound to an end, before becoming coach of Vancouver Whitecaps. Robinson then went to Australia to take charge of Newcastle Jets, then Western Sydey Wanderers where he was relieved of his duties in January 2022 and he was most recently the assistant boss at MLS side DC United for three months alongside Wayne Rooney.
Comments