Thailand coach Robson recovering after throat surgery

Friday, 18th March 2011 at 09:56am

Thailand manager Bryan Robson is recovering in Bangkok after undergoing surgery on March 3 to remove a tumour from his throat.

An earlier laboratory report revealed that the former Manchester United and England captain had a cancerous tumour in his throat which will need further treatment but surgeons in Bangkok are "confident" that the condition can be treated, the BBC reported.

A spokesman for Manchester United said, "At this moment, Bryan is fine to continue with his role as Thailand coach and his role as ambassador of Manchester United.

"Bryan and family have requested that he can continue with his treatment in private and ask that their privacy is respected."

Robson was appointed coach of the War Elephants in 2009, taking over the job from Peter Reid who left the role to become assistant manager at Stoke City.

Robson's tenure in charge of the Thai national team began in Phuket when a largely reserve side was victorious in the four-team Phuket Kata Group Cup but since then the War Elephants have failed to qualify for the Asian Cup and were knocked out at the group stage of the Southeast Asian Games and Southeast Asian Championship, competitions in which Thailand has a long and successful history.

Robson's side did make a positive start towards qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics football tournament when they recorded a narrow 1-0 win against Palestine in what was the Middle Eastern nation's first qualifier to be played on home soil.

The former United and England great has called on the Thai Football Authorities to reform the way that Thai football is structured for the benefit of the national team.

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