An honour for record-breaking skip Robertson
Andy Robertson has won the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Next month, either in the friendly against Gibraltar in Faro on June 3 or Finland at Hampden four days later, he’ll reach another landmark.
The Liverpool full-back’s next appearance for his country will also be his 48th as captain, equalling the record held by Rangers defender George Young (capped 57 times from 1946-57).
Consequently, when he leads the national team out for the opening game of the Euro 2024 finals – against hosts Germany in Munich’s Allianz Arena next month – he will have skippered Scotland more often than any other player.
“Someone told me that in the last camp,” said the 30-year-old. “But personal accolades will always come second to how the team is doing: you don’t get anywhere in football on your own.
“But it will be pretty special if I tick it off, given the captains who came before me. I grew up watching some of them and the ones who were before my time have names and lasting legacies that carry a lot of weight.”
Since Alex McLeish gave him the armband in 2018, the former Queen’s Park and Dundee United star has overtaken legends such as John Greig, Billy McNeill, Billy Bremner, Graeme Souness, Gary McAllister, Paul Lambert and Barry Ferguson – and learned plenty along the way.
“I’m a more experienced player and a more experienced captain now,” he said.
“I was thrown in at the deep end and had to learn on the job. I think I take it in my stride now and deal with things differently, a lot better than I used to but you’d have to ask the boys and the manager if they agree with that!
“It’s still an honour, That feeling hasn’t diminished one bit.”
Clarke has also made history by becoming the first manager to steer Scotland to consecutive appearances at the Euros and Robertson can’t praise him highly enough.
“Qualifying for two European Championships is great and I hope that’s not the end of it,” he said. “There’s more we can achieve if we keep doing the right things.”
Greg Taylor has hailed James Forrest as the perfect player to give Celtic the winning edge in the title run-in.
And the full-back is convinced that, if he can help deliver silverware at club level, he will have a great chance of getting an additional reward in the shape of a call-up for the Euros with Scotland.
Having conjured up crucial goals against Dundee in the league and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final, Forrest looks nailed on to be involved in some stage in Saturday’s Old Firm derby.
If so, it will be his first appearance against Rangers this season, a stat that says it all – both about his injury issues and the competition within the Celticsquad.
“I am so pleased for James,” said Taylor. “He is a good friend, a great team-mate and, of course, what a player!
“He is the model professional and someone who has worked so hard over the course of the season.
“James was in a difficult situation. He has loads of experience at the club but probably fewer opportunities than he would have wanted.
“However, when the business end of the campaign comes around, he is one that everyone knows you can hang your hat on.
“He has proved that because he has been brilliant since coming into the team.”
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“James keeps himself in amazing condition and that means he was readytoplay,”hesaid.
“He is someone who devotes all his time to his career. He is always stretching and foam rolling.
“He’s not a big one for battering the gym or doing loads of weights, but his preparation and the way he looks after himself is unbelievable.
“He never misses anything, every dayisthesame.
“When you see how he works, it is easy to see why he has been so consistent at a high level for so long.”
Taylor is confident the winger would find it equally easy to slide straight back into the international arena, despite an