Highly popular ex-Watford defender Robbo returns as coach

The beloved former Hornets defender officially joined the squad this morning, replacing Spaniard Javier Pereira, who has departed the

club.

Robbo visited London Colney last week and saw an in-house friendly over the weekend.

The 45-year-old was born in Watford and attended school at St Michael’s in Garston.

The left-sided defender rose through the club’s ranks to become a first-team regular, appearing in 228 matches.

Robbo was a strong, no-nonsense defender who never shied away from a tackle. He was part of the team that defeated Bolton Wanderers

2-0 at Wembley Stadium in 1999, propelling the club into the Premier League for the first time.

He made 228 appearances for the Hornets before being traded to West Brom in 2003, when the club was experiencing financial

difficulties.

His stint at The Hawthorns was as successful, as he made 238 appearances for the Baggies, including nearly 100 in the Premier League.

After a loan spell, he moved permanently to Bolton Wanderers in 2010, where he played 87 games.

After a brief loan spell with Leeds, he concluded his career at Birmingham City, where he made 175 appearances.

Throughout his playing career, Robinson made nearly 750 senior games and scored 18 goals.

Anyone who has watched him play would understand how he accumulated 164 yellow cards and was sent off ten times!

He remained with the Blues to take up his first coaching position, and most recently he was Gary Rowett’s assistant at Millwall until the

pair moved to Birmingham at the end of last season in an attempt to keep them in the Championship.

Robbo has never denied that Watford is his club, and he has spoken quietly about wanting to return to Vicarage Road in some form.

Cleverley has now turned that ambition into a reality, and Robbo will make his debut in the dugout on Saturday against Luton.