"You can't let players do what they wish and be professional. That's a fact. As for the team, Boro had two internationals when I got there in 1995. Now they have more than 15. And they didn't cost the fortune some suggest"
About this Quote
The Middlesbrough reference does more than brag. It’s a before-and-after story designed to justify a particular kind of leadership: disciplinarian, builder, modernizer. By anchoring it to 1995, Robson invokes an era when English clubs were rapidly commercializing and globalizing post-Premier League boom, and “internationals” functioned as a shorthand for credibility. He’s telling fans and directors: I upgraded the club’s status, and I did it without bankrupting you.
“And they didn’t cost the fortune some suggest” reveals the real audience: critics who equate ambition with overspending, and perhaps players who believe leverage comes from price tags. Robson is defending recruitment as craft rather than extravagance, implying he spotted value others missed. The subtext is managerial legitimacy: discipline creates the platform, smart buying creates the leap, and the results should silence both the indulgence crowd and the accountants’ chorus.
Quote Details
| Topic | Coaching |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Robson, Bryan. (2026, January 16). You can't let players do what they wish and be professional. That's a fact. As for the team, Boro had two internationals when I got there in 1995. Now they have more than 15. And they didn't cost the fortune some suggest. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-cant-let-players-do-what-they-wish-and-be-109568/
Chicago Style
Robson, Bryan. "You can't let players do what they wish and be professional. That's a fact. As for the team, Boro had two internationals when I got there in 1995. Now they have more than 15. And they didn't cost the fortune some suggest." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-cant-let-players-do-what-they-wish-and-be-109568/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You can't let players do what they wish and be professional. That's a fact. As for the team, Boro had two internationals when I got there in 1995. Now they have more than 15. And they didn't cost the fortune some suggest." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-cant-let-players-do-what-they-wish-and-be-109568/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.



