Robbie Elliott

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Robbie Elliott bigraphy, stories - English footballer

Robbie Elliott : biography

25 December 1973 –

Robert James "Robbie" Elliott (born 25 December 1973 in Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne) is an English former football left back who is currently the strength coach for the United States U-20 men’s football team.

His favoured position was left back but he could also play in central defence or in midfield. He is one of the very few players to have played for both Newcastle United and Sunderland.

Coaching career

Newcastle United

In July 2008, Elliott went back to Newcastle for his third spell at the club and become the new assistant Fitness and Conditioning coach for the club to work under senior fitness coach Mark Hulse.

In June 2009, Elliott left Newcastle United due to the turmoil regarding the take over of the club.

United States Soccer Federation

Since 2009, Elliott has worked with the US Soccer Federation in the position of Youth National Team Performance Expert (Male and Female).

Playing career

Newcastle United

Elliott began his career with his hometown club in 1989 as a youth trainee and offered a professional contract just two years later. He was one of a number of youngsters who had been blooded by the Magpies for first team action by Ossie Ardiles in 1991-92, others included Steve Watson, Steve Howey, Alan Thompson and Lee Clark. He had made his debut the previous season, in a 3-0 league defeat by Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park on 12 March 1991.

He found opportunities hard to come by in his early years at Newcastle, this mainly being due to the form of regular left-back and crowd favourite John Beresford, a signing from Portsmouth in 1992. However, he was still very much considered to be a key part of the first team squad and one to develop by the manager at the time Kevin Keegan. In the season of 1993-94, he was capped by the England U21 team along with fellow Geordie Lee Clark, whilst also making a total of 15 appearances in the Premier League, his first in the top flight.

1994-95 saw him score his first ever Newcastle goal as a substitute in the opening day fixture against top-flight new boys Leicester City at Filbert Street. He was also on the mark in the home against Leeds United towards the latter end of that season, a season which he temporarily became the club’s first choice left-back in the final few months. It looked as if he would be out of the exit door at Newcastle in 1995-96 as he made just six league appearances. Blackburn Rovers showed strong interest in signing him but he remained with the Black and White stripes in order to fight for a first team place.

In contrast 1996-97 was probably his best ever season in a Newcastle jersey, he scored seven goals as the Magpies finished as the runners-up to eventual champions Manchester United, a club whom Elliott had previously trialled with as a schoolboy. The most memorable of his seven goals was the winner in a 1-0 win against Arsenal at Highbury.

Bolton Wanderers

Keegan’s managerial departure from Newcastle also yielded the end of Elliott’s first spell with his boyhood club. New manager Kenny Dalglish accepted a bid of around £2.5 million for Elliott from Division One champions Bolton Wanderers in July 1997, becoming their record signing at the time. Bolton had, at the time, moved to the new 25,000 all-seater Reebok Stadium arena and this looked to be a new start for Elliott as he faced the prospect of more regular first team football alongside his former Newcastle team-mates Alan Thompson, Peter Beardsley and Franz Carr, all of whom where also on Bolton’s books at that time.

However disaster struck in the first ever match at the Reebok Stadium against Everton, just 30 minutes into the game Elliott landed awkwardly following a challenge by Toffees full back Tony Thomas and was stretchered off with a double fracture to his leg. Understandably Elliott was to miss the rest of that season and part of the next season, in a cruel twist of fate. Bolton had been relegated from the Premiership in his absence following an end of season drama at Chelsea.