Robertson was named in the PFA Team of the Year in2018–19 and2019–20. His firstUEFA individual award was inclusion in their 2018 Champions League breakthrough team. UEFA also named him in both their Champions League Squad of the Season and theirfans' Team of the Year in2019. He was again named in their Champions League Team of the Season for the2021–22 season.
Robertson made his full Scotland debut in May 2014. He was appointed Scotland captain in September 2018, leading his country atUEFA Euro 2020 andEuro 2024. With 90 caps, Robertson is currently the third-highest capped player to play for the Scotland men's national team,[2] and since June 2024, he also holds the record for the most caps as Scotland men's national team captain. In November 2025, on his 90th cap, Robertson captained his country to a firstWorld Cup since1998 in a famous 4-2 victory against Denmark.[3]
Robertson was born inGlasgow[4] to parents Brian and Pauline.[5] He has an elder brother named Stephen.[6] He is ofIrish descent via hisGlenfarne-born grandmother.[7]
Brian grew up onMaryhill'sWyndford estate. A tenacious amateur player nicknamed "Pop" afterPop Robson,[8] Brian was a childhood friend of footballersJim Duffy andCharlie Nicholas.[4] However a spinal injury required Brian to wear a back brace, preventing a sporting career.[4] Robertson later said of Stephen as an amateur footballer, "He didn’t move much, he was a bit of a static striker but scored a lot of goals."[6]
Robertson played for Giffnock Soccer Centre, and then joined the youth set up atCeltic, the team he supported as a boy. Celtic Head of Youth,Chris McCart, then released him[11] aged 15 in 2009, considering him too small.[12] That was despite John Gallagher who had coached Robertson at under-14 and under-15, lobbying for Robertson.[4]
Gallagher recommended Robertson toQueen's Park, located conveniently for Robertson and his family in Glasgow's South side. In their youth setup he was nurtured by key figures such as head of youth David McCallum and technical director Andy McGlennan, who encouraged Robertson's switch to left-back from a more advanced position.[4]
ManagerGardner Speirs called Robertson up to the Queen's Park first team at the start of season2012–13.[13] On 28 July 2012, 18-year-old Robertson made his senior football debut. That was in Queen's Park'sScottish Challenge Cup penalty shoot out win atBerwick Rangers. The match attendance was 372.[14][15] He scored his first senior goal when losing 2–1 at home toEast Stirlingshire on 13 November 2012.[16]
Queen's Park were still an amateur club at the time, so players were only paid expenses. Robertson posted on social media in August 2012, "Life at this age is rubbish with no money. #needajob."[14] As a part-time footballer, Robertson trained/played 3 evenings per week plus Saturday afternoons.[17] Robertson did work as a telephone service recipient for ticket bookings atHampden Park where Queen's Park were based.[18] At lunch time he used the gym facilities there to bulk up.[6] He took a part-time Christmas job[17] on the tills atMarks and Spencer onSauchiehall Street in Glasgow.[14] He also didlandscaping work.[19] He later commented on that season with Queen's Park, "I did apply for a couple of uni courses, but by the January or February of the season I knew at the end of the season there was going to be at least two options of full-time football. I knew I could put that (university) on the backburner and I was at least going to have a crack at it (professional football)." Robertson's career plan should he have followed his brother in studying at university, was to teachPE.[6]
Rangers having gone into administration the season before, had been placed in the same division as Queen's Park that season; the lowest of Scotland's four men's senior football divisions. Robertson later commented, "we also played at a fullIbrox – 50,000 – and it was a great experience. We got beaten 2–0 but it was tight until the 87th minute. I missed a glorious chance which I’m always reminded of by old team-mates."[14]
Robertson made 43 appearances that season,[20] more than any other player in the squad.[13] Queen's Park finished third in the2012–13 Scottish Third Division, qualifying for the end of season play-offs. Queen's Park lost the home first leg 1–0 to a second-half stoppage time,Peterhead penalty byAndy Rodgers.[21]Lawrence Shankland scored the 87th minute Queen's Park goal, losing the away leg 3–1.[22]
19-year-old Robertson and his Queen's Park teammateAidan Connolly, signed forScottish Premiership sideDundee United[23] on 3 June 2013.[23] Robertson replaced departingBarry Douglas, who had made the same move three years earlier.[24] Having had requests ignored for a transfer fee for Douglas, Queen's Park (then an amateur club) protested at the prospect of more players departing to United for free. The two clubs agreed a deal involving a percentage of future transfers, later benefiting Queen's with £300 000.[25]
Jackie McNamara was Robertson's manager at Dundee United. Robertson later remarked, "Jackie McNamara had been a great full-back [at Celtic] and he helped me."[14] Robertson later also saidJohn Rankin, "effectively talked me through games in my first three months."[26] Rankin also conscientiously covered the spaces left when Robertson went on an attacking run.[4]
Robertson debuted for United in an opening day of theleague season 0–0 draw atPartick Thistle.[16] On 22 September 2013, Robertson scored his first Dundee United goal, drawing 2–2 at home withMotherwell.[27] He ran from his own half before sending a low left-foot drive in to the goal from 22 yards.[28] Soon afterwards he agreed a new contract with United, until May 2016.[29] He was votedSPFL young player of the month for September 2013 and player of the month for November 2013.[30]
His last appearance for United was in the2014 Scottish Cup Final. With the score at 0–0,Ryan Dow's flicked volley hit the post from Robertson's first time cross into the penalty area.St Johnstone won 2–0.[36][37]
Aged 20, on 29 July 2014 Robertson signed a three-year contract[38] with EnglishPremier League clubHull City.[39][40] The transfer fee was £2.85 million. Hull City's chief scout,Stan Ternent, explained, "I'd been looking atStuart Armstrong but [Robertson] was the no brainer … he'd a history with Celtic and he was always a determined lad given how he'd recovered from his setbacks. You could see straight away he had ability and he can only get better."[41]
Robertson made a goal-line clearance debuting on the opening day of the2014–15 Premier League season. Hull won 1–0 atQueens Park Rangers.[42] That August he was Hull's Player of the Month.[43] He made 24 Hull appearances that season, all in the league.[20] Hull finished 18th in the 20 team division that season, for relegation to theChampionship.Hatem Ben Arfa predicted of his relegated Hull teammates, "There’s one who can be super, super, super good … and that’s Robertson."[13]
Robertson scored the opener for his first Hull goal on 3 November 2015 atBrentford. That 2–0 win put Hull top of the Championship table.[44] He started the2016 Championship play-off final againstSheffield Wednesday. Hull won 1–0 for promotion to the Premier League.[45] Robertson played in 52 Hull games in all competitions that season.[20]
Hull spent one season back in the top flight before being relegated at the end of the2016–17 season. Like two years before, they finished 18th in the 20 team division.[13] He played in 39 Hull league and cup games that season.[20]
Robertson and fellow Hull defenderHarry Maguire were recommended byEverton scoutSteve Walsh to transfer in a combined £20 million deal, but Everton rejected the proposal.[46]
Aged 23, Robertson on 21 July 2017 signed a long-term deal withJürgen Klopp managedLiverpool. The fee was an initial £8 million.[47][48][49]Kevin Stewart went to Hull City at the same time for almost the same amount, in what has been described as a swap deal in all but name.[50]
On 19 August, Robertson debuted for Liverpool in a 1–0 league win overCrystal Palace.[51] Robertson won the Man of the Match award.[4]
Robertson started the 2017–18 season asAlberto Moreno's understudy.[52] Moreno had a bright start to the season,[50] meaning Robertson played only two further games before December.[20] Moreno then injured his ankle,[52] opening the first team opportunity for Robertson to grab on 2 December. Liverpool that day won 5–1 at home in the league againstBrighton and Hove Albion.[20]
Robertson's 70-yard pressing run late in his man of the match performance,[50] in a 4–3 win against league leadersManchester City, on 14 January 2018 went viral with Robertson elevated to cult hero among Liverpool fans.[13][53] Robertson scored his first Liverpool goal in the last game of the2017-18 season, an 4–0 home win againstBrighton and Hove Albion.[54]
He played the full 90 minutes of the2018 UEFA Champions League final, 3–1 defeat to Real Madrid inKyiv.[55] The Independent wrote, "Robertson was one of Liverpool’s more impressive players on the night, the highlight of his display being an expertly-timed last-ditch tackle to preventCristiano Ronaldo from scoring."[56] Robertson ended the season with 30 appearances in all competitions, including 22 in the Premier League and 6 in the UEFA Champions League.[20]
Robertson signed a new contract with the club in January 2019, due to run until 2024.[57] In the 2018–19 Premier League season, Robertson registered 11assists.[58][59] Liverpool finished theleague season as runners-up toManchester City, to whom they suffered their only league defeat. Liverpool's 97 points was the then third-highest total in the history of the English top division. It was also the most points scored by a team without winning the title. Liverpool were unbeaten at home in the league for a consecutive season and matched the club record of 30 league wins in a season.[60][61] On 25 April, Robertson was named in thePFA Team of the Year alongside Liverpool teammates,Trent Alexander-Arnold,Sadio Mané andVirgil van Dijk.[62]
On 7 May 2019, Robertson started in the 4–0 UEFA Champions League semi-final 2nd leg, home win againstBarcelona. Described as "one of the most memorable comebacks of all time", that overturned the 1st leg 3–0 defeat. Robertson subbed off injured, 1–0 at half-time after being kicked byLuis Suárez.[63]
Robertson started the2019 UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout win against Chelsea inIstanbul. Robertson subbed off in the 91st minute with the score at 1–1. The score ended 2–2 after extra-time.[66]
In their first2019–20 UEFA Champions League home game on 2 October, Robertson scored his first European goal winning 4–3 againstRed Bull Salzburg.[69] On 2 November 2019, Robertson scored his second Liverpool Premier League goal; he equalised in the 87th minute againstAston Villa, and winning 2–1 after stoppage time.[70] In the2019–20 domestic campaign, Robertson contributed 2 goals and 12 assists for Liverpool.[71]
In the 2020–21 season, the majority of games were playedbehind closed doors due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[72] On 22 November 2020, Liverpool broke the club record for longest unbeaten run at home in the league (which had previously stood at 63) with a 3–0 win overLeicester City.[73] That run ended on 21 January 2021 following a 1–0 defeat toBurnley; it had stood at 68, the second-longest unbeaten home run in English top-flight history, behindChelsea's run of 86 games between March 2004 and October 2008, and the longest under a single manager.[74] Robertson remained first choice left-back, starting 48 of the 50 games he played.[20]
On 24 August 2021, Robertson signed a new Liverpool long-term contract.[75] He and Liverpool missed out on winning a historic quadruple that season. They defeatedChelsea in penalty shootouts in both theEFL Cup (11–10) andFA Cup (6–5) finals. Both finals were 0–0 after extra time. Robertson scored his team's eighth penalty in the 11–10 win.[76] They were though second in thePremier League and theUEFA Champions League, losing the final 1–0 in Paris to Real Madrid.[77][78] He was selected as part of theTeam of the Season.[79]
At the start of the 2022–23 season, Robertson and Liverpool won theFA Community Shield. That piece of silverware completed the set for Jürgen Klopp and Robertson, to win all 7 available first-tier trophies with Liverpool once at that stage[80] On 26 December 2022 in the 3–1 win atAston Villa, Robertson became the defender with mostassists in Premier League history. That was his 54th Premier League assist at that time. That was one more than previous record holder,Leighton Baines.[81]
On 16 September 2023, withVirgil van Dijk suspended andTrent Alexander-Arnold injured, Robertson was captain in a 3–1 comeback win againstWolverhampton Wanderers. He marked his 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool by scoring Liverpool's second goal in that game. That was his 9th Liverpool goal.[82][83]
Robertson and Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1–0 after extra-time winning the2023-24 EFL Cupfinal.[84] This was Robertson's last season under Jürgen Klopp's management at Liverpool.[80] Robertson managed only 30 appearances for Liverpool that season.[20] A shoulder injured while playing for Scotland againstSpain in October 2023 sidelined him until January 2024.[85]
On 1 September 2024, after a 3–0 win overrivalsManchester United, Robertson was among those to comment on the defensive solidarity under new managerArne Slot, as opposed to high-riskgegenpressing under Jürgen Klopp. Robertson added, "We look a bit more secure defensively."[86] Robertson added later in the season, "It was obviously a different style [back then], It was high energy and high press. This team is a bit more controlled. Two very different teams."[87] An article fromFara Williams in May 2025 analysing the impact of Slot's style of play on Robertson included, "You think back to the Klopp teams in terms of how high up the pitch both Trent and Robertson used to play and how aggressive they were in terms of their start position. That has changed under Arne Slot." Williams added, "He (Slot) is more patient in how they build. They don't leave themselves too exposed to transitions. They are not as expansive through their full-backs. We talk about how well their midfield has played this year, a lot of play has gone through the midfield, whereas under Klopp, they went more down the outside. So there has been a lot of differences, a lot of changes in the system, and that affects personnel. You can even look at the amount of time Robertson andAlexander-Arnold have been on the pitch together and I don't think that has happened as much as before."[88]
Slot explained in November 2024 that Robertson being rotated in selection was due to him missing pre-season training.[89] Slot then praised Robertson, despite receiving a red card in the 17th minute in a 2–2 home draw with Fulham on 14 December.[90] Robertson made 45 appearances that season[20] as he won his secondEnglish league title.[91]
On 29 August 2025, following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, 31 year old Robertson became Liverpool’s new vice-captain, acting as deputy to Virgil van Dijk.[92] Despite that, he initially lost his starting spot in the first five games of the new season to new signingMilos Kerkez.[93] Robertson was restored as first choice left-back and Kerkez was benched on 17 September 2025, for the 3-2UEFA Champions League home win againstAtlético Madrid. Robertson delivered a strong and energetic performance, also scoring the opener from aMohamed Salah, free-kick.[94]
Robertson debuted internationally forScotland under-21s on 10 October 2013, subbing on in a 2–1 win inPaisley againstSlovakia.[95] Robertson was selected for the under-21 team in November 2015, when the full national team did not have a fixture.[96]
Robertson was first named in the fullScotland squad for a friendly againstPoland on 5 March 2014. He played for Dundee United at the time. He subbed on in the second half, as Scotland won 1–0 in Warsaw.[97] Scotland managerGordon Strachan said afterwards "Andy came on there and the first time he picked it up he drove about 30 yards. I thought 'that's fantastic'. Absolutely no grey area, I'm going to do what I do. I loved seeing that first touch."[97]
Robertson made his first start for the national team in a 2–2 draw atCraven Cottage withNigeria on 28 May 2014.[98] Robertson scored his first international goal in November 2014, losing a friendly 3–1 toEngland atCeltic Park.[99]
On 3 September 2018, Robertson was appointedScotland captain by managerAlex McLeish.[100] After a 2–1 defeat againstIsrael in October 2018, Robertson said that both he and fellow left-backKieran Tierney were being played out of position in the 3–5–2 system adopted by McLeish to accommodate both players.[101] In aUEFA Euro 2020qualifier againstCyprus on 8 June 2019, Robertson scored the opener with a long-range strike. Scotland won 2–1.[102]
In November 2020, with Robertson again as captain, Scotland qualified forUEFA Euro 2020 following a play-off 5–4 win on penalties againstSerbia inBelgrade. It was Scotland's first major tournament qualification since 1998, ending a 22-year non-qualifying streak.[103]
On 14 June 2021, Robertson captained Scotland in their first Euro 2020 game, losing 2–0 to theCzech Republic.[104] After a 0–0 draw with England atWembley Stadium, Scotland were knocked out at the group stage after losing 3–1 toCroatia.[105]
On 4 September 2021, Robertson won his 50th cap and thereby joined theScottish FA International Roll of Honour.[106] In his next game, he led the team to win 1–0 inAustria.[107]Paul McGinn subbed on as a debutant. That was he and Robertson's first game together in almost nine years, since with amateurs Queen's Park in Scottish football's fourth tier[108] (Robertson had been reunited at international level with another ex-Queen's Park team-mate,Lawrence Shankland, in 2019).[109]
Lyndon Dykes andKenny McLean late comeback goals earned Scotland a June 2023, 2–1 win againstNorway in Oslo. That put Scotland top of theirUEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group on a maximum nine points.[110] Robertson was named man of the match. He was described byBBC Sport as "The captain led by example. Composed at the back and brilliant at driving the team forward up the left, he barely put a foot wrong.".[111]
On 7 June 2024, Robertson was named in Scotland's squad forUEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.[112][113] On the same day in a 2–2 friendly draw withFinland, he was Scotland captain for the 49th time. That surpassedGeorge Young's record for the most games as captain of the Scotland men's national team.[114][115]
On 14 June 2024, he started the opening match of Euro 2024. Scotland lost 5–1 to hostsGermany, withRyan Porteous sent off before half-time.[116] Robertson started in the 1–1 draw withSwitzerland and the 1–0 defeat toHungary. With Scotland needing to win, Robertson in defence was replaced after 88 minutes byLewis Morgan in attack. Hungary then counter-attacked in the 10th minute of stoppage time up Robertson's side of the pitch to score. Scotland were thus eliminated, bottom ofGroup A with one point from three games.[117][118][119]
On 18 November 2024, Robertson scored a stoppage-time winner in aUEFA Nations League, 2–1 win in Poland.That prevented Scotland's automatic relegation to League B, after finishing third in their group.[120] Scotland though were subsequently relegated in therelegation play-off, losing 3–1 on aggregate to Greece.[121]
Robertson's 90 caps[95] is currently third highest of all time Scotland men's national team players. He is behindKenny Dalglish (102 caps) andJim Leighton (91 caps).[2]
During his prime between 2018 and 2023, Robertson was frequently described by pundits and media sources as one of the best left-backs in world football.[122][123][124][125][126] An online article specifically analysing Robertson's style (at the time under Klopp at Liverpool), highlighted defensively Robertson's, "discipline required to maintain the defensive integrity of the team", "ability to time his presses and regain possession," and "positional intelligence and awareness." The article added, "Robertson’s defensive strategy involves proactive decision-making, calculated risks, and strategic positional play. This allows him to make crucial interceptions and regain possession for his team, [to] often launch counter-attacks." The same article described Robertson's attacking threat from his, "blistering pace", "exemplary assists", "work ethic", "dynamic overlapping runs" and "ability to exploit spaces and provide precise crosses helps his team create and convert chances".[127]
Former Manchester United managerJosé Mourinho commented in December 2018, after losing 3–1 to Liverpool, "I am still tired, just look[ing] at Robertson. He makes, I think, 100-metre sprints every minute. Absolutely incredible, and these are qualities."[128][129]
Robertson wrote in a 2019 self-penned article, "No magic wands have been waved in my direction, I didn't win some kind of lottery to land a spot on one of the biggest clubs in the world. The reason why I’m a Liverpool player is the same reason why I'm captain of my country: I've worked my bollocks off to get where I am, and by doing that, I've been able to make the most of whatever talent I have."[19]
Fábio Aurélio, a predecessor Liverpool left-back, in June 2020 said of Robertson: "He's kind of the complete player because physically he's well capable of going forward and going back he defends very well." He added, "He's quick, so his one-v-one is good", and "he's always improving, he's not comfortable in his situation being first choice."[130]
In March 2018 Robertson donated a Liverpool shirt signed by teammateRoberto Firmino, to a young boy who had given his pocket money to a localfood bank.[131]The Sunday Times reported in March 2020 that Robertson had donated significant sums to food banks in the Glasgow area.[132] In November 2020, Robertson founded the AR26 Charity, which aims to help socially deprived and critically-ill children.[133]
In September 2020, Robertson released his first memoir,Robbo: Now You're Gonna Believe Us, which mainly focuses on Liverpool's2019–20 campaign. All proceeds from the book go to Robertson's foundation, which helps underprivileged children in Scotland.[134]
Robertson married Rachel Roberts in the summer of 2022.[135] The couple have three children, a son (born 2017) and two daughters (born 2019 & 2023).[136][137] In 2019 he was reported living inFormby.[138] He is a practisingRoman Catholic.[139]
^Campbell, Andy (28 May 2014)."Nigeria 2–2 Scotland".BBC Sport. Retrieved24 July 2014.Scotland's new-look back four, which included Dundee United's Andrew Robertson making his first international start, found themselves under pressure when they conceded possession to Uchebo but Allan McGregor saved the shot.