Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed Andy Robertson as the club’s new vice-captain, with the Scotland international stepping into the role vacated by Trent Alexander-Arnold following his summer move to Real Madrid.
The 30-year-old full-back, now in his ninth season at Anfield, will serve as deputy to captain Virgil van Dijk. Robertson has already established himself as a leader at international level, wearing the armband for Scotland, and Slot believes his experience and influence make him the natural choice to take on the responsibility at Liverpool.
Slot confirmed the decision during his pre-match press conference.
“It’s Robbo. He has played here so many years, won the league twice. It was Virgil, Trent, Robbo and Mo [Salah] last season. Trent left, so there are a lot of logical reasons for [the decision].
He’s a very good player, plays many games, knows what it takes, knows the culture, but also knows the culture of the club and the dressing room.
Apart from all the quality he shows on the pitch, he plays also a big role in the culture we have here at this club. Which is, [as] I said many times last season, the biggest gift I could get from Jürgen [Klopp].
That’s also something we definitely have to keep for my successor to have, this same culture, if I am ever leaving this club.”
Robertson has been a mainstay in Liverpool’s success since joining from Hull City in 2017. He played a key role in the club’s Champions League triumph in 2019 and their long-awaited Premier League title win the following year. His consistency, work rate, and leadership qualities have made him one of the most influential figures in the dressing room.
Slot underlined that the decision to appoint Robertson was not only about footballing ability but also about maintaining the strong culture that former manager Jürgen Klopp instilled during his time at Anfield.
“He’s played here so many years, won the league twice. He’s a very good player, plays many games, knows what it takes, but also knows the culture of the club and the dressing room.”
Robertson’s rise to Liverpool vice-captain is another milestone in what has been one of the most remarkable career journeys in modern football. Released by Celtic as a teenager and working part-time jobs while playing for amateur side Queen’s Park, he was famously once described as being “too small” to make it as a professional.
But after climbing the leagues with Dundee United and then earning his move to Hull City, Robertson’s relentless work ethic and quality at left-back caught Liverpool’s attention. Jürgen Klopp signed him in the summer of 2017 for just £10 million, a deal now regarded as one of the best bargains in Premier League history.
Since then, Robertson has been central to Liverpool’s modern era of success. He formed one of Europe’s most feared full-back pairings alongside Alexander-Arnold, driving Klopp’s high-intensity style. He lifted the Champions League in 2019, followed by the club’s first league title in 30 years in 2020, as well as the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Now, having taken over the captaincy for Scotland in 2018, Robertson adds the Liverpool vice-captaincy to his leadership roles. His reputation as a vocal presence in the dressing room and his commitment to the values of the club made him Slot’s clear choice.
Robertson’s appointment ensures continuity within the leadership group at Liverpool, as he now officially steps into the role of van Dijk’s right-hand man both on and off the pitch.
