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Top 20 England players of all time - #9

Sports Mole's countdown of the top 20 England players of all time continues with number nine - Bryan Robson.

Bryan Robson (90 caps, 26 goals)

Bryan Robson in action for England on June 09, 1985.© Getty Images

Had it not been for his lengthy list of injuries, Bryan Robson would most likely have a deserved place among the exclusive club of England centurions.

The box-to-box midfielder was one of the first names on the teamsheet when fit and still managed to accrue 90 caps for his country - a tally which placed him fifth on the all-time list at the time of his retirement.

Sixty-five of those appearances came as captain too, with only Bobby Moore and Billy Wright having led England out on more occasions, and his exploits with the national team and Manchester United earned him the nickname 'Captain Marvel'.

After making his international debut in 1980, Robson was very much a fixture of the first team by the time the 1982 World Cup came along and he got England off to the best possible start with the opening goal after just 27 seconds of their first game against France - a World Cup record which stood until 2002.

Injuries curtailed his role in both the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, though, and he eventually retired in 1991 having scored 26 times in his 90 appearances.

Robson made his name at club level with West Bromwich Albion before a British record transfer to Manchester United, where he helped the team to three FA Cups, the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup before lifting the first two Premier League titles.

It speaks volumes for the quality of the tireless Robson that, in 2011, he was voted as Manchester United's greatest ever player from a poll of ex-United players.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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