Dom Gall: How Robertson went from Queen’s Park to a King of Europe

While their rivals were splashing the cash on expensive flops, Liverpool snapped up a future star from relegated Hull City. Now he's a European champion.

By / Football News / 5 years ago

Every footballer has a story, but most of them aren’t quite as good as Andy Robertson’s. As he said himself, he’s “just a wee guy from Glasgow living the absolute dream”.

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Andy’s fellow Liverpudlian, Jamie Carragher, has famously slated full-backs, saying nobody wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville. Perhaps that was a fair point Jamie, but I can assure you there’s plenty of kids in Scotland now dreaming of being an Andy Robertson.

So just how did Robbo go from the unemployment line to European champion? Here’s a brief timeline:

2012/13

Andy Robertson makes his senior debut for Queen’s Park in a 2-2 draw with Berwick Rangers. Whilst Queen’s Park are classed as an amateur team, they play in the SPFL so he was basically a professional footballer from this point, albeit part-time. Queen’s Park also play at Hampden, a ground Andy has since returned to many, many times.

Queen’s Park didn’t pay wages, but they did give players expenses. Having said that, the expenses clearly weren’t up to much if this tweet from the man himself is anything to go by:

2013/14

After just one year in SPFL League Two, Andy was snapped up by then Premiership side Dundee United. Unlike many young players who make the step up, Andy slotted straight into the side, making 44 appearances and scoring five goals.

His form didn’t go unnoticed as he was named the Premiership’s Young Player of the Year, and this was the year he received his first Scotland call-up too. At the time, Andy described his season as “a dream year”, little did he know that this success was to barely be the tip of the iceberg.

2014/15 – 2016/17

Hull City were the side who won the race to Andy’s signature, with the player moving south for around £2.8m. His first year as a Premiership footballer wasn’t quite as full on as the previous campaign in Scotland, with 24 appearances for a Hull side that were relegated to the Championship.

The drop-down arguably benefitted the then 21-year-old, as he made 53 appearances in all competitions for the Tigers, ending with a Playoff win – and a clean sheet – as Hull bounced back the Prem.

Another season of regular playing time helped Andy progress as a player in his final season with Hull, although the team were again relegated to the Championship.

NORTH FERRIBY, ENGLAND – JULY 21: The new club badge on the shirt of Steve Bruce manager of Hull City during a pre-season friendly match between North Ferriby United and Hull City at the eon visual media stadium on July 21, 2014 in North Ferriby, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

2017/18 – Present

Well, this is where it all goes a bit mad. In the summer of 2017, Andy signed for Liverpool with a price tag of around £8m. Makes you wonder how much the man’s worth now?

You would think, as a 23-year-old, it would have taken Robbo some time to adjust to life at one of England’s – if not Europe’s – biggest clubs. That’s not been the case.
76 appearances have followed in his two seasons under Jurgen Klopp, with the last of those being a 2-0 win in the Champions League Final v Spurs. It’s even more unbelievable to consider that was his second UCL Final appearance, and in consecutive years too.

In the Premiership, he was instrumental in a Liverpool side that were a bawhair – the only acceptable unit of measurement in Scotland – away from a title too.

He’s the first Scot since Paul Lambert in 1997 to lift the UCL trophy and talking of Scots, Robertson has progressed through the ranks to now captain the Scotland side.

With 29 caps to his name, it’s a massive shame the rest of his teammates are shite and he’ll never see a major tournament.

Robertson has to be considered as the best Scotland player from the last 20 years or so, and as he’s still only 25, he’s got plenty of time to cement his argument for being one of the best ever.

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