Michael Dawson knew Andy Robertson before the trophies, the medals and the Liverpool success, and he believes Tottenham are getting the complete package.
Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced their first signing of the summer, bringing Andy Robertson to North London following the expiry of his Liverpool contract. The Scotland international will officially become a Spurs player on 1 July, ending a remarkable nine-year spell at Anfield in which he established himself as one of the finest left-backs of his generation.
Robertson arrives with something Tottenham have been desperately lacking in recent years: leadership, experience and a winning mentality. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, those qualities could prove just as important as anything he offers on the pitch.
The 32-year-old remains a top-class full-back and has consistently performed at the highest level ever since breaking through at Hull City over a decade ago. It was there that he shared a dressing room with former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson for three seasons, which perhaps explains why Spurs chose Dawson to help unveil Robertson across the club’s social media channels.
And judging by Dawson’s words, Tottenham supporters have every reason to be excited.
Michael Dawson reveals what stood out about Andy Robertson at Hull City
Speaking to the club, Dawson was asked what he saw in Robertson when the Scot first arrived at Hull City ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.
The former Spurs defender replied: “I’ll tell you what I saw, I saw a great character, a great young man, a lad that was leaving Scotland for a new challenge in the Premier League.
“I saw a lad who was willing to learn from experienced players like myself, Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone, Robert Snodgrass and Alan McGregor, lads who took him under their wing, and I’ve probably missed a few players along the way as well, and he just took everything we said on board.
“He always wanted to learn, always wanted to improve and respected the fact the older lads who had been there were there to help him.
“Robbo had to learn quickly and I’m sure he won’t mind me saying that. He’d come from Queen’s Park and Dundee United, now he’s in the Premier League. We were in the ‘big league’ as Steve Bruce used to say, but he just bought into everything.
“He had a lot of lads who’d been around and everyone just took to him straight away, he was a real character at a young age.
“Robbo and Harry Maguire… to see what those two players have gone on to achieve is quite remarkable.”
Michael Dawson believes Tottenham are signing the finished article
Dawson was then asked what player and person he sees now, 12 years on from Robertson’s arrival at Hull City.
He replied: “Now, I’d say he’s the finished article.
“We had two seasons in the Premier League together and a Championship campaign where we had a great group of players, got promoted, we all learnt and he had all these challenges to overcome.
“Then, when you go to a club of Liverpool’s stature, the pressure, the expectation… what he’s given to Liverpool Football Club in the time he’s been there and what he’s won, the goals and assists, the way Jurgen Klopp got him and Trent Alexander-Arnold playing, was just quite remarkable.
“I saw him when we played at Anfield towards the end of last season. It was the first time I’d seen Robbo for a long time. It was great to catch up.
“He hasn’t changed and now it’s an honour to welcome him to this football club and it’ll be amazing. He’ll bring all his experience, all the leadership that he’s learnt along the way from players like Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner, Mo Salah, the list goes on.
“I’ve always loved watching him throughout his career and I’ll certainly enjoy watching him play in this famous shirt that I wore for nine and a half years and was always proud to wear.”