Former footballer and television personality Michael Robinson has died at the age of 61 after a long battle with cancer. He was a household name in Spain where he had been an extremely popular football commentator. His family reported the news of his passing via his Twitter account.
"With enormous sadness we inform you of the death of Michael. It leaves us with a great emptiness, but also innumerable memories, full of the same love you have shown him. We will remain eternally grateful to you for having made this man so happy, he never walked alone", the family wrote. "Thank you."
Robinson announced in December 2018 that he was suffering from incurable cancer. Despite his illness, the former Liverpool star continued to comment on Spanish and Champions League matches for Spanish channel Movistar+.
"You’ll never walk alone. You'll always be with me", wrote commentator colleague Carlos Martinez, with whom Robinson had paired up on Canal+ from the start of his commentating career in Spain. He also worked with Julio Maldonado:
"Thirty years working with him, travelling with him, learning with him. Michael is eternal because he is part of many people's lives. He didn't lose his smile until the last day. Nothing will be the same without you, friend Michael", said "Maldini."
"The Movistar+ family loses a colleague and a friend. We say goodbye to the person who showed us the way to a different type of football broadcasting and taught us to find the human side of the sport", wrote his companions at the channel where he had worked since the 1990s, now known as Movistar+.
Robinson played for Preston North End, Manchester City, Brighton, Liverpool, QPR and Osasuna. It was with Liverpool that he was most successful, winning an English First Division title, a European Cup and a League Cup. After his playing days were over, he went into commentating and had great success. With his bubbly personality and his accent, he was the lovable guiri (foreigner). Perhaps not all of his Spanish fans knew that Robinson, although born in England, was Irish by descent, and represented the Irish Republic on 24 occasions.
His Spanish club, Osasuna, in the city of Pamplona, also offered their condolences:
"We are saddened by the death of Michael Robinson. His legacy will always remain with us," said the club. "Our warmest embraces to his loved ones."