Robert Lee

Charlton Athletic were in the old second division in 1992, partly because of their finances which were at somewhat of and unhealthy status. To help raise funds Charlton manager Alan Curbishley sold Lee to Newcastle, who although being in the same division had seen their own finances improve under Sir John Hall. Lee helped Newcastle gain promotion to the Premier League. Lee quickly became a major part of the Newcastle team that would continually persue the league title and push Manchester United all the way. He was the driving force on the midfield four.

IN his early days at Newcastle, Lee formed an effective midfield partnership with Lee Clark and Ruel Fox and later was part of a solid midfield including Peter Beardsley and David Batty. Rob Lee was a goal provider and a goal scorer. In the division one winning season of 1992/93, Lee provide a link from midfield to attack, continually supplying chances for striker Andrew Cole. When Kevin Keegan resigned as Newcastle manager, his replacement Kenny Dalglish though very highly of Lee and had faith in him to provide the goods for Newcastle and even handed him the captaincy, but Dalglish was sacked after just one season.

His replacement was Ruud Gullit. Lee fell out with Gullit with many disagreements behind the scenes, in the 1999/2000 season Gullit announce his squad list which revealed that Lee had not been given a squad number, his old number 7 shirt had been give to new signing Kieron Dyer. Lee was also stripped of his captaincy and forced to train on his own. Gullit would quit just a few games into the season.

Bobby Robson replaced Gullit and under Robson, Lee, like Shearer (who had also fallen out with Gullit) found his way back into the team, and at Kieron Dyers insistance given back the number 7 shirt. Dyer took the number 8 strip.

Robson transformed Lee into a defending midfielder, allowing him to hold up the ball. Under Keegan his role had been more attacking. In the 2001-2002 season, Lee wanted a contract extension but was told he would have to wait until 2002. Unhappy at the way negotiations unfolded he handed in a transfer request and despite Bobby Robson not wanting him to leave, respected the decision and Lee was sold to Derby County.

Info

Full name: Robert Martin lee
DOB: 1st February 1966
Place of Birth: West Ham, England
Position: Midfield

Facts

After a fall out with Rudd Gullit, Lee was stripped of his captaincy and wasn't even given a squad nuber for the 1998-1999 season.

In October 2006, Lee was interviewed for the manager job at Bournemouth but the job went to Kevin Bond.

In July 2007, Rob, alongside former team mate Warren Barton were arrested for taking a limousine but were not charged.