_(cropped).jpg) Robson in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Barry Gordon George Robson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-11-07)7 November 1978 (age 47) | ||
| Place of birth | Inverurie, Scotland[2][3] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2003 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 135 | (17) |
| 1999–2000 | →Forfar Athletic (loan) | 25 | (9) |
| 2003–2008 | Dundee United | 145 | (32) |
| 2008–2010 | Celtic | 42 | (4) |
| 2010–2012 | Middlesbrough | 87 | (17) |
| 2012 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 17 | (3) |
| 2013 | Sheffield United | 17 | (2) |
| 2013–2016 | Aberdeen | 60 | (4) |
| Total | 528 | (88) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Scotland B | 2 | (0) |
| 2007–2012 | Scotland | 17 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Aberdeen (interim) | ||
| 2023–2024 | Aberdeen | ||
| 2024–2025 | Raith Rovers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Barry Gordon George Robson (born 7 November 1978) is a Scottish professionalfootball manager and former player. Robson played as amidfielder for several clubs in Scotland, England and Canada and represented Scotland internationally.
Robson began his career as a youth player withRangers before spells withInverness Caledonian Thistle,Dundee United and finallyCeltic in his native Scotland. A move to England followed, where he spent two and a half years withMiddlesbrough. Robson then moved to Canada to play forMLS sideVancouver Whitecaps FC before returning to England after one season to sign forSheffield United. Robson then returned to Scotland, joiningAberdeen in summer 2013. He retired from professional football in 2016 after three seasons there.
After retiring as player, Robson took a coaching position with Aberdeen. After a run of good results in his second stint as their interim manager, Robson became Aberdeen manager in 2023. He was sacked a year later.
Robson appeared 17 times forScotland between 2007 and 2012.
Robson began his professional career withRangers, but failed to break through to the first team.[2][4] During his time atIbrox he was given the nickname 'Baby Oleg' by teammates who perceived a resemblance to the club's Ukrainian defenderOleh Kuznetsov.[4][5] In October 1997, he signed forInverness Caledonian Thistle,[6] and although not always a first team regular in his early Inverness career, helped them win promotion from theSecond Division in1999.[7] Robson spent most of the1999–2000 season on loan atForfar Athletic,[8][2] but thereafter returned to establish himself in the Inverness line-up.
Dundee United submitted a bid for Robson in May 2003[9] and he signed ten days later for a fee of between £50,000 and £100,000.[10] Despite being sent off on his United début, he became a regular in the team. Robson missed only two matches throughout the2004–05 season, finishing as United's second top scorer with nine goals, and signed a new three-year contract at the end of the season.[11] Robson scored the goal that ensured United's survival in theSPL in the final game of the season against his old club Inverness CT.[12] He also featured in the season'sScottish Cup Final which Dundee United lost 1–0 toCeltic.[13]
Robson started the2006–07 season as Unitedcaptain[14] and scored againstFalkirk on the opening day of the season. He made his 100th league appearance for United in the game againstSt Mirren in late August, scoring twice in a 3–1 win but also being sent off late in the match. In February 2007, Robson signed a new contract until 2011,[15] with his first careerhat-trick following in March in a 4–0 away win againstHearts.[16] With 11 goals by mid-March, Robson finished the season as the league's top-scoring midfielder, four ahead of Rangers'Charlie Adam.[citation needed]
Thefollowing season, Robson managed an even better ratio, scoring 12 from 24 games in all competitions at the point of leaving United.[citation needed] With 11 league goals, Robson was second top scorer in the league, one ahead of colleagueNoel Hunt. Six of his goals came in January 2008, including a second hat-trick against Hearts in less than a year.[17]
On the final morning of the January 2008transfer window, Robson was in negotiations to move to Celtic after they had a "seven figure" bid, plus Celtic playerJim O'Brien on loan until the end of the season, accepted by United.[18] He signed for Celtic that evening.[2]
Robson made his Celtic debut on 10 February againstAberdeen, scoring with his first touch of the ball, a free-kick into the bottom corner of the goal.[19] He scored his second goal for Celtic on hisChampions League debut againstBarcelona. An assist fromAiden McGeady allowed Robson to loop a header overVíctor Valdés, to put Celtic ahead,[3][20] though they eventually lost 3–2. On 27 April, Robson scored his firstOld Firm goal,[21] converting a penalty which was the winning goal.[22] On 10 August, Robson again scored from a penalty kick, this time against St Mirren, the opening goal of Celtic's league campaign for the2008–09 season, in a 1–0 victory for Celtic. Robson's final game for Celtic was against Old Firm rivals Rangers.[23]
Robson left Celtic in January 2010 and joined his former Celtic managerGordon Strachan atMiddlesbrough along with teammatesWillo Flood,Scott McDonald andChris Killen.[24] He was sent off on his home debut againstBristol City.[25] He captained Middlesbrough againstPeterborough United standing in for injuredGary O'Neil, and scored his first goal for the club in the seventh minute.[26] His form continued as he scored two penalties against QPR on 27 February at the Riverside.[27] He scored again in theTyne-Tees derby against Newcastle on 13 March.[28] Three days later he scored against Derby County at Pride Park.
Robson scored the quickest ever goal at the Riverside on 8 September 2010 against Reading, netting after just 24 seconds in a game which Middlesbrough went on to win 3–1.[29]
Robson scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season in a 3–1 victory over Barnsley on 16 August 2011.[30] On 21 August 2011, he scored the equaliser from a free kick in Middlesbrough's 3–1 win over Birmingham City.[31] He followed this, three days later, by hitting his team's opener after four minutes in a 2–0 victory over Peterborough United in the second round of theLeague Cup.[32] Robson's fine goal scoring form continued with a goal against Millwall and two against Doncaster to help extend Middlesbrough's strong start to the season.[33][34] Robson scored a goal from 35 yards in the 87th minute, to give Middlesbrough a vital 1–0 home victory over Hull City on 26 December 2011.[35] On 29 January 2012, Robson scored a left footed volley againstSunderland at theStadium of Light. This forced anFA Cup fourth round replay at theRiverside Stadium. Following an injury to club captainMatthew Bates, Robson was giving the captain's armband until the end of his final season at the Riverside.[36] In April, Robson was announced as the Player of the Year by the Middlesbrough Supporters' Club for the 2011–12 season.[37] On 28 April 2012, Robson played in a 2–1 loss againstWatford on the last day of the season, setting up Marvin Emnes for Boro's solitary goal.[38] It was his final game for Middlesbrough.[citation needed]
In February 2012 Robson agreed to a three-year contract with theVancouver Whitecaps FC as one of their two availableDesignated Players.[39] Robson made his Whitecaps debut in a 1–0 away victory against theColorado Rapids,[40] and in his home debut, scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw withLos Angeles Galaxy.[41] Robson finishedthe season having played 18 times for Vancouver and scoring three goals. With the Whitecaps returning for pre-season training in January 2013, they announced they had mutually agreed to terminate Robson's contract to enable him to return to the UK, citing the inability of his family to settle in Canada.[42]
On the last day of January 2013 transfer window Robson returned to England, signing a short-term contract withSheffield United for the remainder of the season, taking the vacant number 19 shirt.[43] Robson made his debut for the Blades the following day, as a substitute in a 2–1 home defeat againstCoventry City, providing an assist with his first touch of the ball in a Blades shirt, setting upDave Kitson's goal from a corner kick.[44] His first goal for the Blades came in his first start for the club, netting from the penalty spot in a 3–0 win overColchester United a few weeks later.[45] Robson played regularly for the remainder of the season but with the Blades failing to gain promotion they opted not to offer him a new deal when his contract expired.[46] Robson left United having made eighteen appearances and scored two goals.[47]
In June 2013, Robson signed a pre-contract agreement with his home town clubAberdeen,[46][48] and made his debut in their first game of the season, a 2–1 victory overKilmarnock.[49] Robson scored two goals to help Aberdeen beat Inverness CT in a thrilling 4–3 encounter during the festive period. Robson also netted for the dons with a penalty against Dundee United which leveled the game at 1–1 before Peter Pawlett netted in stoppage time to seal all three points for Aberdeen. Robson also found the net directly from a corner kick in a match against St Mirren which Aberdeen went on to win 2–0.
On 16 March 2014, Robson was in the Aberdeen side that beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4–2 on penalties to win the2014 Scottish League Cup final. Robson was among the Aberdeen players to score during the shoot-out.[50][3] He signed a new one-year contract with Aberdeen on 15 May 2014.[51] Robson retired from professional football at the end of the 2015–16 season;[52] he then took up a coaching position with Aberdeen.[53]
Robson won a call-up to theScotland B team for the first time in December 2005, alongside fellow Dundee United playerMark Kerr.[54]
Robson played in theScotland Future team in March 2006.[55][56] In August 2007, Robson received his first full international call-up when selected for the friendly againstSouth Africa,[57] making his début as a second-half substitute.[58] He was subsequently called up for the following squad in September 2007 for the double-header againstLithuania andFrance but failed to make an appearance.
In September 2008, Robson was credited with his first international goal in the2010 World Cup qualifying victory againstIceland in unusual circumstances. AfterJames McFadden's second-halfpenalty kick was saved, both players chased the rebound. Though it appeared that McFadden touched the ball over the line,[59][60][61][62] the goal was officially awarded to Robson.[63][64] TheSFA lobbied on McFadden's behalf, and in March 2009FIFA re-credited the goal to McFadden.[65][66]
On 14 February 2022, Robson was appointed as caretaker manager ofAberdeen following the sacking ofStephen Glass, being temporarily promoted from his role with the U18s.[67][68] Robson oversaw one match during his interim spell in charge, a 1–1 draw withSt Johnstone,[69] before the club made the permanent appointment ofJim Goodwin.[70]
Robson was again put in caretaker charge of Aberdeen in January 2023, following the sacking ofJim Goodwin.[71] Aberdeen confirmed on 29 March that Robson would continue as manager at least until the end of the 2022–23 season.[72] Following a run of seven consecutive wins that pushed Aberdeen into third place in the2022–23 Scottish Premiership, Robson signed a two-year contract to continue as manager on 1 May 2023.[73]
On 31 January 2024, Robson was sacked by Aberdeen with the team sitting eighth in the2023–24 Scottish Premiership.[74][75]
On 29 December 2024 Robson was announced as the new manager ofScottish Championship sideRaith Rovers on a two and a half year deal.[76] Robson was Rovers' third manager of the season following the dismissal ofIan Murray just one league game in to the season and his replacementNeill Collins leaving forSacramento Republic after 15 games in charge.[77]
On 11 November 2025, Robson was sacked by Raith Rovers.[78][79] Robson left the club after a run of four defeats in six matches, which put them in sixth place in the2025–26 Scottish Championship.[78]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1997–98 | Scottish Second Division | 23 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
| 1998–99 | Scottish Second Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Scottish First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2000–01 | Scottish First Division | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2001–02 | Scottish First Division | 34 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 5 | |
| 2002–03 | Scottish First Division | 34 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 13 | |
| Total | 135 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 167 | 27 | ||
| Forfar Athletic (loan) | 1999–2000 | Scottish Third Division | 25 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 28 | 10 | |
| Dundee United | 2003–04 | Scottish Premier League | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 29 | 3 | |
| 2004–05 | Scottish Premier League | 36 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 45 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Scottish Premier League | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | Scottish Premier League | 29 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 12 | ||
| 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 21 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 24 | 12 | ||
| Total | 145 | 32 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 166 | 36 | ||
| Celtic | 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| 2008–09 | Scottish Premier League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 2 | |
| Total | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 55 | 7 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2009–10 | Championship | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 18 | 5 | |
| 2010–11 | Championship | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 33 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12 | Championship | 37 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 39 | 9 | ||
| Total | 87 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 19 | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2012 | Major League Soccer | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| Sheffield United | 2012–13 | League One | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| Aberdeen | 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 28 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 35 | 4 | |
| 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Scottish Premiership | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 60 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 76 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 528 | 88 | 32 | 12 | 30 | 4 | 28 | 4 | 618 | 108 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 0 | |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Aberdeen (caretaker) |  | 13 February 2022 | 19 February 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 000.00 | [83] |
| Aberdeen | | 29 January 2023 | 31 January 2024 | 49 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 040.82 | [83] |
| Raith Rovers | | 29 December 2024 | 11 November 2025 | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 042.11 | |
| Total | 88 | 36 | 20 | 32 | 040.91 | ||||
Celtic
Aberdeen
Individual
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