Barry Robson

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Personal information
Barry Robson
Full name	Barry Robson
Date of birth	November 7, 1978 (1978-11-07) (age 29)
Place of birth	Aberdeen, Scotland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfield
Club information
Current club	Celtic
Number	19
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1995–1997 1997–2003 1999–2000 2003–2008 2008–	Rangers Inverness CT → Forfar Athletic (loan) Dundee United Celtic	000 0(0) 135 (17) 025 0(9) 145 (32) 009 0(3)
National team²
2005–2007 2007–	Scotland B Scotland	002 0(0) 002 0(0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:19, 18 March 2008 (UTC). ² National team caps and goals correct as of 17:39, 30 May 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Barry Robson (born November 7, 1978 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League. He can play anywhere across the attacking midfield line.

1 Early career
2 Dundee United
3 Celtic
4 International career
5 Honours
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Early career

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

[edit] Dundee United

Dundee United submitted a bid for Robson in May 2003^[1] and he signed ten days later for a fee of between £50,000 and £100,000.^[2] Despite being sent off on his SPL debut against Hibernian, he became a regular in the United team. Robson missed only two matches throughout the 2004-05 season, finishing as United's second top scorer with nine goals, and signed a new three-year contract at the end of the season.^[3] 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 team for the first time in December 2005, alongside fellow United player Mark Kerr.

Robson started the 2006-07 season as United captain^[4] and scored against Falkirk on the opening day of the season. Robson made his 100th league appearance for United in the game against St. Mirren 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,^[5] with his first career hat-trick following in March in a 4-0 away win against Hearts. With eleven 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 1 in less than 3 games was bettered only by Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

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

[edit] Celtic

On the final morning of the January transfer window, Robson was in negotiations to move to Celtic after they had a "seven figure" bid, plus Celtic player Jim O'Brien on loan until the end of the season, accepted by United.^[6] Robson signed for Celtic that evening.

He made his Celtic debut on 10 February, 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 Champions League debut against 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.Robson has since played a key role in the late charge for the title (highlights include setting up Scott McDonald for the crucial 2nd goal in a 2-0 win at Hibernian F.C.). His swashbuckling performances and commitment to the cause have been a trademark which helped Celtic win the league in the 2007/08 season and which has endeared himself to the Celtic fans.

[edit] International career

Robson played in the Scotland Future team in March 2006^[7] In August 2007, Robson received his first full international call-up when selected for the friendly against South Africa, making his début as a second-half substitute. He was subsequently called up for the following squad in September for the double-header against Lithuania and France but failed to make an appearance.