Michael Robinson, soccer player and broadcaster, dies at 61

Sport

Michael Robinson, soccer player and broadcaster, dies at 61

2020-04-28 19:22 Last Updated At：19:30

Michael Robinson, who won the European Cup with Liverpool and became a respected and widely popular soccer broadcaster in Spain, has died. He was 61.

Robinson's death was announced Tuesday by his family on his official Twitter account. The cause of death was not given, but 16 months ago Robinson revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer.

After his playing days, Robinson captivated Spaniards with his soft-spoken commentary that carried a strong accent but remained clear, entertaining and showed his deep knowledge of Spanish soccer.

“We’re deeply saddened,” Liverpool wrote on Twitter. “The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Michael’s family and friends at this sad time."

Liverpool CEO Peter Moore said he was “ absolutely devastated ” by the news.

“I had the honour of being interviewed by him last year and spending time reminiscing about his days at @LFC,” Moore said. “What a pleasure it was... You’ll Never Walk Alone, Michael.”

Robinson’s one season at Liverpool, which also earned him a league title medal in 1984, was the peak of a career that included spells at Manchester City and Brighton. He also made 24 appearances and scored four goals as a striker for Ireland in the 1980s.

“I know he has been fighting this for a number of years now and it’s been difficult for him,” Graeme Souness, the captain of Liverpool’s European champion team in 1984, told British broadcaster Sky.

Souness described his former teammate as “a charming man, bon viveur, great stories. He enjoyed a year at Liverpool, when we had a glory year and he was a big part of that.”

Robinson's final transfer as a player, to Spanish club Osasuna in the late 1980s, would lead to a long and respected career in Spanish media.

Barcelona noted in a tribute that Robinson won an international journalism award in 2018.

"(He was) a person who loved football and who knew how to explain it with knowledge and ingenuity,” the Spanish champions said.

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu also paid tribute to Robinson on Twitter.

“The world of football will feel your loss deeply,” Bartomeu said. “Thank you for sharing your vision of football, your kindness and your intelligence with us. RIP Michael Robinson.”

Real Madrid said Robinson earned “the affection of the entire football and sports community."

Spanish athletes such as tennis player Rafael Nadal and basketball player Pau Gasol expressed their sadness on Twitter, as did the Spanish league, the Spanish soccer federation, the Spanish government and the Irish soccer association.

The Spanish league said Robinson will be remembered as “one of the best commentators to work in Spanish league games.”

Robinson began his broadcasting career with state-owned television Spanish channel RTVE. He was a commentator during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

His program “El Día Después," or “The Day After,” became highly popular in Spain as he helped dissect the soccer weekend every Monday. He later also succeeded with the "Informe Robinson,” a documentary series in which he went in-depth into a series of subjects.

He also was popular with his participation in radio shows in Spain.

Among the players who reacted to Robinson's death were Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

“You'll never walk alone Michael!!" said Alonso, a former Liverpool player. "Rest in peace."

AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.

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Christmas Day sports: Here's a look at the premier matchups on the holiday

The evolution of the Christmas Day sports calendar in the U.S. has given fans a respite if they need a break from family gatherings or just some entertainment while they sip on eggnog.

This year's major events include five NBA games and three NFL games, with games spanning more than 12 hours.

Here's a look at the premier matchups — as well as a few you can probably skip — while preparing to navigate the holiday.

Spurs at Thunder, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ABC — Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are one of the league's up-and-coming teams, making the NBA Cup final before losing to the Knicks last week. The Thunder won a championship last season and have the league's best record this year at 25-3. Adding a little spice: The Spurs knocked the Thunder out of the NBA Cup in the semifinals earlier this month.

Rockets at Lakers, 8 p.m., ESPN/ABC — Savor this one, because it's hard to believe we'll have many more opportunities to watch Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James, particularly on Christmas Day. The 37-year-old Durant keeps pouring in buckets for the Rockets while the 40-year-old James is still playing at a high level in his 23rd NBA season.

Timberwolves at Nuggets, 10:30 p.m., ESPN/ABC — Nothing wrong with this game between two of the better teams in the NBA's Western Conference. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is turning in another ridiculous season, averaging a triple-double for the Nuggets. They'll face the Timberwolves, who have the high-flying and always entertaining Anthony Edwards.

Lions at Vikings, 4:30 p.m., Netflix — This is the best game of a disappointing NFL slate, featuring a Lions team that must win if they want to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The division rival Vikings have had a frustrating season, but would love to play spoiler and have won their past three games.

Cavaliers at Knicks, 12 p.m., ESPN/ABC — The Knicks just won the NBA Cup and could have their best team in years thanks to the core of Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges. They'll face a Cavaliers team that's faded back to .500 this season after leading the Eastern Conference with 64 wins last year.

Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video — Well, this one looked enticing a few months ago, but the fact that Kansas City is eliminated from the playoff race and lost its top two quarterbacks to knee injuries has put a damper on the mood. On the positive side, the Broncos have been one of the best teams in the NFL and are trying to stay ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers and win the AFC West.

Mavericks at Warriors, 5 p.m., ESPN/ABC — Many Mavericks fans got an early Christmas present when general manager Nico Harrison — architect of the infamous Luka Doncic trade — was fired earlier this season. The problem is Dallas is still not playing well, through rookie Cooper Flagg's improvement is an encouraging sign. Warriors veteran star Stephen Curry is capable of big nights like his 48-point performance against the Blazers earlier this month, but Golden State's glory days feel like they're coming to a close.

Cowboys at Commanders, 1 p.m., Netflix — There will be plenty of eyeballs on this game just because it's the Cowboys and the Commanders, but there's not much here in terms of stakes. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoff race and Washington's starting QB Jayden Daniels is out for the season after aggravating an elbow injury in Week 14.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA, AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL