Robinson began his managerial career aged 29, spending six years with Milton Keynes Dons and guiding them to the Championship in 2015. Robinson was sacked the following year, and was appointed manager of Charlton Athletic soon after. After spending 18 months at the club, he departed for Oxford United, where he spent five years and guided the club to two play-off campaigns before eventually being sacked.
In the 2010–11 season, his first season in charge, Robinson guided MK Dons to 5th place in League One. This was regarded as a good achievement, improving on the Dons' points total over the previous season.[10] The team lost in the play-offs to Peterborough United over two legs.[11]
In the 2011–12 season, he continued making impressive strides, attracting big-name players and guiding his side to another 5th-place finish and was again in the play-offs. During the season, he signed a three-year contract extension.[12]
In 2014–15, Robinson masterminded arguably MK Dons' greatest victory, a 4–0 EFL Cup win over Manchester United,[13] as well as leading the Dons to promotion to the Championship for the first time in a decade when they finished as runners-up in League One.[14]
On 20 July 2015, Robinson signed a contract extension alongside the club's Head of Coaching, Richie Barker, though MK Dons did not publicise the length of either deal.[15] Robinson's MK Dons suffered relegation from the Championship during the 2015–16 season, finishing in 23rd position.
On 23 May 2016, it was revealed that Robinson had turned down an offer from Massimo Cellino to become Leeds United's Head Coach.[16] In October 2016, he was relieved of his duties following a 3–0 defeat to Southend United the previous day, which took the club's winless run to four games.[17]
Charlton Athletic
Robinson was named the new Charlton Athletic manager on 24 November 2016 following the sacking of Russell Slade, taking full charge of the club from Monday 28 November.[18] He departed by mutual consent in March 2018.[19]
Oxford United
On 22 March 2018, Robinson was appointed as the new head coach of League One club Oxford United, joining on the same day as his departure from Charlton Athletic. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract,[20] extended to 2022 in August 2019.[21] In his first season in charge, Oxford finished in 12th place.[22]
In December 2019, Robinson was charged by the Football Association for using abusive language to a match official.[23] Oxford were adjudged to have finished the COVID-affected 2019–20 season in 4th place in the League on average points per game; they reached the play-off final but lost 2–1 to Wycombe Wanderers.[24] The following season Oxford again reached the play-off places, finishing 6th in League One[25] before losing to Blackpool in the first round of the playoffs 6–3 on aggregate.[26]
On 26 February 2023, Robinson was sacked by the club following a run of eight games without a win, his last match in charge being a 3–0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers the previous day.[27]
Leeds United
On 3 May 2023 he was appointed as the new assistant manager of Leeds United, under new manager Sam Allardyce, with whom Robinson had worked at Blackburn Rovers.[28]
Salford City
On 5 January 2024, Robinson was appointed head coach of League Two club Salford City.[29] Robinson was sent off 14 minutes into his first game in charge for interfering with a throw-in.[30] He oversaw an eight-game unbeaten run at the start of his tenure to haul Salford away from the bottom two, and ensured the club's survival in the Football League by the end of the season.
In February 2024 he brought in former Manchester United and Hull City defender Alex Bruce as assistant[31].
Robinson achieved a number of club records in his first full season in charge of Salford, including the club's longest winning run in the Football League (6 games in December 2024 to January 2025), and he guided the club to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round for the first time ever with wins against League One Shrewsbury Town in the first round, and Cheltenham Town in the second. Salford were rewarded with a trip to Premier League champions Manchester City[32]. In the first round game against Shrewsbury, Robinson brought on Marshall Heys towards the end of the game who became the youngest player to play for a professional club in the competition[33], aged 15 years, 2 months and 6 days. He has now fielded three of the youngest 10 players in FA Cup history.
Robinson was born in Liverpool and grew up with his parents and younger brother and sister. He joined Everton’s academy as a 10-year-old before moving to Swindon Town at 16, where he started to suffer from back problems. Whilst playing in non-league at 22, a chance meeting with Steve Highway and Bill Bygroves turned Robinson’s career to coaching, and since he has only spent eight months out of the game having worked with multiple age groups from Under-9s to Under-18s, and coached from League Two up to the Premier League.
In that time he has worked with many young talents in the game including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Connor Coady, Dele Alli, Phil Jones, Kevin Danso and Ademola Lookman.
At 29-years-old Robinson became the youngest person to obtain a UEFA Pro Licence, and at the time became the youngest manager in the Football League when he took over at MK Dons in May 2010. In September 2019 Robinson became the third youngest person to take charge of 500 professional games when Oxford United player against Tranmere Rovers in League One, placing him in the company of Brian Clough and Gordon Taylor.
Robinson has one daughter, Jasmine, who was born in 2006. In 2010 he married actress AnnMarie Davies, and the pair divorced in 2024 with Robinson having endured personal challenges while managing at Oxford, which contributed to his departure. He continues to live happily in Buckinghamshire with his daughter and partner, despite working at Salford City.
Robinson has appeared as a regular pundit on TalkSPORT and Sky Sports.
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