Rob lived life with a smile.. he was unique
Pal pays touching tribute to tragic football coach after sudden death
HEARTS coach Austin MacPhee yesterday paid tribute to a talented football scout who died suddenly aged just 28.
MacPhee told how he struck up a friendship with Robert Rowan, from Fife, before he carved an impressive career working for Celtic, the SFA and English Championship club Brentford FC.
And he described him as a “gregarious character without a bad bone in his body”.
Robert – who was last year tipped for a job at Rangers – died on Monday.
The full circumstances of his death have not been revealed.
MacPhee, 39, is an assistant head coach at Hearts and head coach of the Northern Ireland national team.
He said he met Robert as he started out on his career on a coaching course in Sweden, where his professionalism shone through. He added: “He didn’t just see it as another course, he saw it as an opportunity and engaged more with the people and the country than any of the other participants.
“He quickly figured out how to get more out of the opportunity than just two weeks’ education by joining the dots to make sure he could return quickly to work in a country he loved.
“Robert was positive, an attitude so many Scots don’t have but with the humour and honesty that so many do. He worked for my charity AMsoccer, coaching young players and thought deeply about football.
“He was keen to try any new challenge. I remember him trying to ski for the first time at our Christmas day out at Glenshee, having never done it.
“This summed him up. Positive attitude, not scared of new challenges and did it with a smile.
“He fell over but got up again and was still laughing in the pub at the end of the day.
“The outpouring of gratitude and respect since Robert’s tragic death, from all levels of the football community, shows just how unique he was to have touched so many different people in so many different ways.
“A friend, colleague and general good guy taken far too soon.”
In a statement, Brentford said his sudden death had left the club “devastated”.