NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd today handed Sir Bobby Robson the perfect 70th birthday present when he declared: "Carry on for another five years.''

Robson may be the Methuselah of football, but he is also living proof that age is no barrier in the management game.

The former England boss tonight marks his personal milestone by leading Newcastle into a crucial Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Many feel that Robson could choose to make next season his last in a profession he has graced for over 50 years.

But he insists retirement is the last thing on his mind and Shepherd stressed: "Don't be too surprised if he's here when he's 75.

"All this fuss about his 70th birthday. Mark my words, we'll be doing it all over again in five years.

"We handed him a 12-month rolling contract to stop the vultures gathering.

"There's no ticking clock, no countdown to retirement. Every day he gets out of bed, he was a year left.

"OK, Elsie might have something to say about the day he packs it all in, but I'm not going to get between Bobby and his wife.

"People keep asking me: 'Who's the next manager? Is there a backstop in case Bobby gets run over by a bus? The truth is there is no backstop. I don't know the alternative.

"Physically, Bobby is an unbelievable specimen. Look at his posture. Whenever I watch training, he's always in the middle of it with his boots on. You never see him watching from the touchline, barking orders.

"The enthusiasm and drive are still there. He's more passionate than ever. If you could bottle what Bobby's got, you'd earn a few quid.''

Shepherd turned to lifelong Newcastle fan Robson nearly three-and-a-half years ago after the ruinous reign of Ruud Gullit had left the Magpies rock-bottom in the Premiership.

The United chief recalled: "When I interviewed Bobby for the job, I think he ended up interviewing me!

"It was a match made in heaven, Bobby coming to Newcastle. It was in the stars. The key is that he's a Geordie.

"He turned us down when he was at Barcelona, then arrived two years later.

"It doesn't terrify me that one day we'll have to look for a new manager, not after what I've been through here.

"I just hope it is put off for a long time. He has never told me when he wants to quit and we wouldn't ask him either.

"How will it end? It will end in triumph. He wants to leave a legacy. That's so unselfish. When he does finally go, he wants this club to be full of good, young players.

"Ours is a young team. We have kids but they're already very good - the likes of Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana. The average age is 23 or so. In Bobby's eyes, it can only get better.

"We think we're on the right lines to win silverware. What was it Napoleon said? He'd rather have a lucky general than a brave one. We just need that bit of luck.''

Shepherd admitted: "Bobby is not that keen on this birthday. He's not really up for it. He doesn't want any razzmatazz. I've always said there's only one Bobby Robson. The guy is a one-off, absolutely unique. When we appointed him, he was 66 but I never think of BR being an age.

"He's the elder statesman of world football. Everywhere he goes, he's honoured; his reputation goes before him.

"Look at Alex Ferguson. I cannot see any manager achieving what he's done at Manchester United. It's the same with Bobby. No-one else comes to mind when you look at his career.

"I'd go as far as to say there is more respect for him than any other manager. He has an honest way about him. What you see is what you get.

"I know this 70 thing has been built up, but it just goes over my head.

"When he came, age didn't come into it. It was far more important to get someone in of Bobby's stature. We desperately needed him because of where we were.

"I don't think of him as an old man. More importantly, the players don't either. He's amazing. He was on the training ground just a week after having a recent knee operation.

"You wouldn't see some players doing that so soon after surgery.''

By his own admission, football is Robson's drug, but Shepherd revealed other loves, like cricket and music.

"Frank Sinatra is his big thing. Maybe that's one area where he's different from his players. There's none of that Eminem, and Kieron Dyer's music drives Bobby mad.

"Bobby loves his cricket too. He was a mean player in his time, probably still is knowing him.

"During the Ashes series, he was staying up until two in the morning then coming to work fresh as a daisy. How he keeps going, I'll never know. His energy is incredible.'