As Andy Robertson prepares to pull on a Liverpool shirt for the final time on Sunday, the Scotland captain sums up the most cherished feeling of his nine-year stay: not the trophies, but the collective ascent under Jürgen Klopp. 'We were on the most amazing journey ever, all together,' he says. 'Climbing that mountain from the bottom to the very top was the best feeling ever.' The left-back departs with 'no regrets, no bitterness' and a deep appreciation that a £8m gamble from Hull City blossomed into a mutual love affair. 'It was easy to fall in love with Liverpool – I'm fortunate Liverpool fell in love with me.'
The road to Anfield immortality began with rejection. Told by Celtic at 15 he wasn't good enough, a teenage Robertson famously tweeted about life 'with no money' after debuting for Queen's Park. Spells at Dundee United and Hull followed, but his signing in 2017 initially raised eyebrows. It was a single, lung-busting press against Manchester City in January 2018 that cemented his belonging. With Liverpool already 4-1 up, he chased down five City players in one sequence, a moment he says made fans think 'we could have a proper left-back here.' He reflects: 'That was the game I finally belonged in a Liverpool jersey. Everything went straight up from there.'
Under Klopp, Robertson became a relentless pressing machine and a creative force from full-back, part of a team that grew together into world-beaters. 'Mo Salah didn't sign as the best player in the world. Virgil van Dijk wasn't yet the best centre-back. Alisson, Trent, Hendo – we were all just on this journey,' he recalls. The intensity was such that opponents were beaten before kick-off. 'We’d beat teams in the tunnel. Genuinely. Scotland teammates would line up thinking: we’re going to need to run our socks off today.' That environment, where everyone from coaches to backroom staff bought into a single vision, produced an era of relentless success.
The trophy cabinet swelled with Champions League glory in Madrid, a first league title in 30 years, a Carabao Cup and more, but the iconic images often feature Robertson: ruffling Lionel Messi's hair during the Barcelona comeback, roaring after a derby goal, or hoisting silverware. Yet he insists the process, not the prizes, defines his pride. The full-back partnership with Trent Alexander-Arnold pushed both to world-class levels, redefining the position's attacking demands. This week, a farewell message from Alexander-Arnold – a photo from that 2019 Champions League win – almost moved Robertson to tears.
This season, however, has been overshadowed by unimaginable tragedy. The car crash that killed teammate Diogo Jota and his brother in Spain last July sent shockwaves through the club. 'Football didn't matter. We didn’t care about football for weeks. None of us wanted to train. Physios didn't want to treat you,' Robertson explains. The emotional toll was immense, with the season's opening game against Bournemouth becoming a deeply poignant occasion as Jota's family looked on. After the 20th minute, performance dipped – 'the emotional impact that it had on all of us.'
Liverpool's campaign has been inconsistent. New, exciting signings need time to adapt, while some established stars haven't hit their usual heights. 'We have been too easy to play against,' Robertson admits. Yet he retains faith: 'They have more than enough in that changing room to be successful again.' He sees this not as a full rebuild but a transitional phase, far from the 2017 starting point but requiring patience as the squad coalesces.
Robertson's bond with the city mirrors the Glaswegian upbringing that shaped him. 'Liverpool and Glasgow are very similar cities with similar people and similar things that are important to them,' he says. A new mural near Anfield bears the inscription 'Born in Glasgow, Made in Liverpool,' a testament to a connection that transcends football. He leaves having made 377 appearances, a haul that underlines his durability and consistency.
As he steps away, there is no hunger for the spotlight. 'I'm glad one of our Egyptian friends might take a bit more of the limelight. I can just sneak underneath that,' he jokes, referencing Mohamed Salah. The boy who once had nothing is walking away a legend, having given everything. 'Everyone's gutted when you leave Liverpool,' he says, but the overriding emotion is pride. The mountain has been climbed, and the view from the summit is unforgettable.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
