Andy Robertson Scotland caps record Kenny Dalglish, Digi Mart USA News: Andy Robertson says it gives him “goosebumps” whenever he thinks about it. On Friday at Hampden, Scotland face North Macedonia in a match that could see him win a 102nd cap, which would level him with Sir Kenny Dalglish.
On Monday in St Gallen, Switzerland, all being well, Robertson will break the record, a mark that has stood for 40 years. The Tottenham left-back, sitting in the boardroom at Queen’s Park in the shadow of Hampden, recalled his first international appearance, coming off the bench in Warsaw on 5 March 2014 at the age of 19.
“Nervous, excited, living the dream, not knowing what road I was on,” he said. Robertson recalled that then-Scotland manager Gordon Strachan told him to play as he did at Dundee United and not to play safe.
His family attended the game, and he said he had “pretty much every emotion that day.”
Robertson said he would have laughed had anyone told him then what lay ahead: two Premier League titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a Champions League, a Super Cup, a Club World Cup, and soon to be the most capped male Scottish player in history. He also has by far the most games as captain of the men’s team.
“I’ve never actually been confident,” he said. “I’ve always doubted myself and that’s always got the best out of me.
I’ve always tried to prove people wrong and prove myself wrong.”
Robertson was clear that Friday is not about him. “There are normal seats but there’s one throne and Kenny Dalglish should be sat on it,” he said.
“Friday night’s about the greatest player of all time in our country, and for me, that will always be Kenny.” He said Dalglish’s record had stood for so long that he deserves it, and described him as the best player ever to play for Scotland and arguably Britain.
Robertson also spoke about his personal connection to Dalglish. He recalled his move to Liverpool in 2017 for a fee of £8m, and said the Dalglish family had been generous in their support.
He said his late grandfather, who wore hearing aids, had been delighted to meet Dalglish after a Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona in May 2019.
Robertson also spoke about the next generation of Scottish players, saying he hopes the country will protect 15 to 17-year-olds and give them opportunities. Looking ahead to Friday, he acknowledged that Scotland were well below standard in their last match against Slovenia.
“Unacceptable,” he said. “We didn’t give our fans anything to shout about.”
