Football united in mourning the passing of England legend Sir Bobby Robson yesterday.

Paul Gascoigne, who played under Robson for England most famously at the 1990 World Cup, told ITV News: "I'm speechless. I'm devastated. Bobby was like my second dad. I was like a son to him. I've had loads of texts from football players, managers, everybody.

"I can't describe how much he meant to me. I've just been crying for three hours, and I've come to see my mum and my dad. It's just unbelievable.

"He gave me a chance to play in the World Cup. I can't really talk that much because I just want to cry, that's all."

Asked what his message would be to Robson and his family, he added: "I love him. And his wife Elsie - I'll always be there for her.

"I'm sort of numb. I'm emotionally drained. I want to go up and see his wife Elsie but it's a difficult situation for everyone. I'm going to miss him so badly."

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, said: "I was never too big or proud to ask him for advice which he gave freely and unconditionally. And I'm sure I am speaking for a lot of people when I say that.

"In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson. I mourn the passing of a great friend; a wonderful individual; a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed.

"His character was hewn out of the coal face; developed by the Durham County mining background that he came from.

"His parents instilled in him the discipline and standards which forged the character of a genuinely colossal human being. He added his own qualities to that which then he passed on to his sons.

"The strength and courage he showed over the past couple of years when battling against his fifth bout of cancer was indescribable. Always a smile; always a friendly word with never a mention of his own problems.

"The world, not just the football world, will miss him. Let's hope it won't be long before another like him turns up because we could never get enough of them."

Jose Mourinho, the Inter Milan coach who worked with Robson for five years at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona , also said: "I hadn't spoken to him in the last two months because it was hard for me.

"It was me who found it hard because I didn't want to think that he was dying, that wasn't the image that I wanted to keep with me forever of Bobby Robson, that wasn't the voice I wanted to hear.

"I wanted to and I will keep with me always the Bobby Robson of every day, a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm.

"Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side.

"My thoughts and embraces go to all his loved ones."

Inter Milan released a statement to add:

"The president (Massimo) Moratti and all at Inter Milan join in with Jose Mourinho's grief and are by Sir Bobby Robson's family's side in recording one of the great masters of English and world football."

Fabio Capello, the England manager, paid tribute: "Sir Bobby was a wonderful man, a real gentleman.

"It's extremely sad that Sir Bobby has lost his final fight against cancer, but he will never be forgotten. He really was a great man.

"To manage the national team for so long was a remarkable achievement, and we all remember how close he came to leading England to the World Cup final in Italy."