Andy Robertson wore the No. 26 shirt for nine years at Liverpool and before that at Hull and Dundee, but has now explained why he couldn’t keep it at Tottenham.
Robertson joined up with his new Tottenham team-mates for the first time this week and has been unveiled as their new No. 3.
The 32-year-old has worn the No. 26 for the majority of his career prior to this summer’s move, doing so in 12 of the past 13 seasons for three different clubs – barring a single campaign in the No. 3 for Hull.
His decision not to stick with his iconic shirt number at Tottenham comes after the No. 26 was informally retired when Ledley King ended his playing career in 2012.
“Obviously I was 26 at Hull when I first went, I was 26 at Liverpool,” Robertson acknowledged in an interview with Tottenham‘s official media.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Friday, March 6, 2026: Liverpool's Andy Robertson celebrates wuth team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring the first goal during the FA Cup 5th Round match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Molineux. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Friday, March 6, 2026: Liverpool's Andy Robertson celebrates wuth team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring the first goal during the FA Cup 5th Round match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Molineux. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But when I came here, I knew that the number 26 hasn’t been used since the legend that is Ledley King and from my point of view, I wanted to respect that.
“He was an unbelievable player and has done so many good things for this football club.
“Number 3 means a lot to me – that’s my national team number, I’ve had so many good memories as number 3 for Scotland. So when I knew 3 was going to become available, it was a no-brainer for me.
“The number 26 is a really important number to me in my life and it will always stay like that, but number 3 is just as important and hopefully I can make as many memories in the number 3 shirt as I did in the 26.”
Of course, a player’s shirt number is largely trivial and does not impact what they offer a club on and off the pitch.
But it can come to symbolise their standing at a particular club, as though the No. 26 is now technically free for another player to take up at Liverpool, it will be long remembered as Robertson’s shirt.
Robertson has joined the Tottenham squad for their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, and could make his first unofficial appearance against Auckland City on Sunday.
Andy Robertson explains decision to join Tottenham
“I was very fortunate, I’ve not had to [get used to a new club] for so long,” he continued.
“Being at one club for nine years is a long time, but it’s also exciting [to move].
“It’s perfect for this time in my career, to have that, that’s why when the opportunity came up I was excited to go for it.
“Now that it’s here I’m excited to hopefully keep progressing in my career, keep doing good things and hopefully I can do that in a Tottenham shirt.”
training screenshot collage
training screenshot collage
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HONG KONG - Saturday, July 26, 2025: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez during the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 pre-season match between Liverpool FC and AC Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Newly appointed head coach of the German national soccer team Juergen Klopp attends a news conference at the headquarters of the German Football Association DFB in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)