Barry Robson

Barry Robson (born 7 November 1978) is a Scotland association football who plays for Celtic F.C. in the Scottish Premier League. He can play anywhere across the midfielder.

Club career

Early career

Robson began his professional career with Rangers F.C., but failed to break through to the first team at Ibrox Stadium. In October 1997 he signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C., and although not always a first team regular in his early Inverness career, helped them win promotion from the Scottish Football League Second Division in 1998–99 in Scottish football. Robson spent most of the 1999–00 in Scottish football on loan at Forfar Athletic F.C., but thereafter returned to establish himself in the Inverness line-up.

Dundee United

Dundee United F.C. submitted a bid for Robson in May 2003 and he signed ten days later for a fee of between £50,000 and £100,000. Despite being sent off on his SPL debut against Hibernian F.C., he became a regular in the United team. Robson missed only two matches throughout the 2004–05 in Scottish football season, finishing as United's second top scorer with nine goals, and signed a new three-year contract at the end of the season. Robson scored the goal that ensured United's survival in the SPL in the final game of the season against his old club Inverness CT and won a call-up to the Scotland B national football team for the first time in December 2005, alongside fellow United player Mark Kerr (footballer).

Robson started the 2006–07 in Scottish football season as United Captain (football) and scored against Falkirk F.C. on the opening day of the season. Robson made his 100th league appearance for United in the game against St. Mirren F.C. 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, with his first career hat-trick following in March in a 4–0 away win against Heart of Midlothian F.C.. With 11 goals by mid-March, Robson finished the season as the league's top scoring midfielder, four ahead of Rangers' Charlie Adam. Given that Robson played just 29 games, his ratio of one goal in less than three games was bettered only by Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

The 2007–08 in Scottish football, Robson managed an even better ratio, scoring 12 from 24 games in all competitions at the point of leaving United. With 11 league goals, Robson was second top scorer in the league, one ahead of colleague Noel Hunt. Six of his goals came in January 2008, including a second hat-trick against Hearts in less than a year.

Celtic

On the final morning of the January 2008 transfer window, Robson was in negotiations to move to Celtic after they had a "seven figure" bid, plus Celtic player James O'Brien (footballer) on loan until the end of the season, accepted by United. Robson signed for Celtic that evening.

He made his Celtic debut on 10 February against Aberdeen F.C., scoring with his first touch of the ball, a perfectly placed free-kick into the bottom left corner of the goal. Robson scored his second goal for Celtic on his UEFA Champions League debut against FC Barcelona. An assist from Aiden McGeady allowed Robson to loop a header over Victor Valdes, to put Celtic ahead, though they eventually lost 3–2. On 27 April, Robson scored his first Old Firm goal, converting a penalty - which eventually went on to be the winner. On 10 August, Robson again scored from a penalty kick, this time against St. Mirren, in what was the opening goal of Celtic's league campaign for the 2008–09 in Scottish football, and the only goal which separated the two sides in what was a 1–0 victory for Celtic.

International career

Robson played in the Scotland B national football team team in March 2006. In August 2007, Robson received his first full international call-up when selected for the friendly against South Africa national football team, making his début as a second-half substitute. He was subsequently called up for the following squad in September 2007 for the double-header against Lithuania national football team and France national football team but failed to make an appearance. In September 2008, Robson was credited with his first international goal in the 2010 World Cup qualifying victory against Iceland national football team in unusual circumstances. After James McFadden's second-half penalty kick was saved, both players chased the rebound. Though it appeared that McFadden touched the ball over the line, the goal was officially awarded to Robson.

International goals

Honours

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