Bryan Robson admits that it was 'the biggest mistake of his life' to turn down the England manager's job.
The 64-year-old former Manchester United captain needs no introduction at Old Trafford and beyond.
Renowned as one the club's greatest leaders, Robson started his career with West Brom - but it's for a memorable 13-year stay with United that he's best known.
Back-to-back Premier League titles in 1993 and 1994 were the pinnacle of his time in these parts.
Playing over 350 games for United, the former midfielder - dubbed 'Captain Marvel' - also won 90 caps for England and was part of the coaching staff under Terry Venables at Euro 1996.
For the uninitiated, that tournament inspired the nation in a similar way to delayed Euro 2020 this summer.
Venables was the architect of that as Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and co went painstakingly close on the pitch.
During that time, Robson was cutting his managerial teeth at club level with Middlesbrough.
Beaten on penalties in the semi-finals against Germany, Venables departed and was replaced in the England job by Glenn Hoddle - but that might well have been Robson.
During a wide-ranging interview with Mail Online, the former United captain said: "For whatever strange reason the FA decided to let go one of the game's most brilliant coaches [Venables].
"That led to an approach to me.
"When it became clear Terry was leaving the job, Don [ex-Arsenal coach, Howe] came quietly up to me. He said if I answered 'yes' that he would make it happen with the FA, who much admired him.
"I gave him an instant, gut reaction 'no'. I said I didn't feel I was ready for England and I'd be going back to managing Middlesbrough.
"That was the biggest mistake of my life. I should have asked for the weekend to think it over and had I done so I would have agreed. Too late. The offer would never come again. They went and gave the job to Glenn Hoddle, who had even less experience of management than I did."
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