BARCELONA'S new head coach Luis Enrique has paid tribute to the influence of his old boss Sir Bobby Robson, on the fifth anniversary of the former England manager's death.

The Football Association marked the anniversary with the Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day and a grassroots event next to Ipswich's Portman Road, one of the clubs he managed.

Enrique, meanwhile, who has brought his Barcelona team to train at St George's Park near Burton, told www.thefa.com: "As a manager, he had very clear ideas, with an attacking concept of play and an easy and clear philosophy. His natural way of doing things, being very spontaneous, being capable of managing a group, being able to adapt himself to the high expectations of a big team with different circumstances.

"I remember that at half-time he used to grab some plastic glasses to show us the tactics and movements he wanted to see. He was a very talented and easy going person."

It was Enrique's first season as a player at the club too and for that he reason he has special memories of Robson.

"It was a year where we won three trophies, one Cup Winners' Cup, one Kings Cup, one Spanish Super Cup," he added.

"It was a difficult season because it was the year after [Johan] Cruyff had left, and Barcelona decided to sign the services of Robson and his great experience. I think he reached the full expectations.

"I used to appreciate his words of praise, because it was my first year at Barcelona, a very important year for me, and I have to say, I always had a good relationship with him and he always had good things to say about me and that's always nice."

The FA presented a £25,000 cheque to his widow Lady Elsie Robson, for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation which has so far raised more than £7m to fund developments to fight cancer.