Andy Robertson Poised to Break Scotland’s Caps Record, Hails Sir Kenny Dalglish as ‘The Greatest’

Scotland captain Andy Robertson is preparing to make history by equalling the nation’s all-time caps record, though he insists the legendary Sir Kenny Dalglish will always remain ‘the greatest’ in the hearts of the football community. Exactly 40 years after Dalglish earned his 102nd and final cap in a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg at Hampden Park, Robertson is set to match that milestone when Scotland faces North Macedonia on Friday.

The 32-year-old defender will then have the opportunity to surpass the legendary mark on Monday, provided he features in Scotland’s final Nations League group match against Switzerland in St Gallen.

“In terms of sheer numbers, I will stand side by side with him, but I do not want to forget, nor do I want people to forget, just how incredibly important this man has been for our country,” Robertson remarked when asked about matching the 75-year-old’s record. “For me, he was arguably the best player in the world during his era, and he will always be the greatest this country has ever produced, regardless of what the future holds.”

“He was always the trailblazer, the first to achieve X, Y, and Z, and those pioneering achievements must never be forgotten.”

“We are not always the best at remembering our greats, and I believe tomorrow’s milestone provides a perfect opportunity to honour Kenny properly.”

“It is unbelievably proud, but in my opinion, tomorrow is not really about me; it is about him. It is about how incredibly long that record stood, what he achieved throughout his magnificent career, and the outstanding person he is.”

Robertson forged a close bond with Dalglish following his move to Liverpool from Hull City in 2017.

“While we have shared plenty of lighthearted jokes about me potentially surpassing his record, I know deep down how genuinely proud he is of me and how truly happy he is for my success.”

“I will always remember that when I was handed the captaincy, he was one of the first people to text me, saying, ‘I know I have been out of the game a little bit, but if you ever need help, I can be that person.’ To have someone of his stature to lean on, bounce ideas off, and rely upon is truly invaluable.”

“He and his family have been an immense support to my own family, particularly during my time at Liverpool, and I have no doubt we will exchange a few messages on the day the record is broken.”

“When the moment arrives that I officially go above him in the record books, I will only be ahead of him in terms of caps, and that is where the comparison ends.”

“For me, he will always remain the greatest figure this country has ever seen, because of what he achieved, the extraordinary way he achieved it, and the man he has become.”

“While Scotland has produced many magnificent players over the years, for me, Kenny will always stand at the very summit, and I do not anticipate that ever changing.”

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City).

Defenders: James Penrice (Rangers), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Ryan Porteous (Los Angeles FC), David Bates (Amedspor).

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Scott McTominay (Napoli).

Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), Che Adams (Torino).

Scotland’s Nations League fixtures

Scotland vs North Macedonia – November 13, kick-off 7.45pm

Switzerland vs Scotland – November 16, kick-off 7.45pm

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