Robert Snodgrass

Robert Snodgrass (born 7 September 1987) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Snodgrass started his senior career with Livingston.

Snodgrass established himself as a regular first-team member during the 2005–06 season.

This was a campaign of mixed fortunes, as he gained regular first-team football, yet his side were relegated to Division 1.

After recovering from a broken metatarsal, he moved to Stirling Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season on 30 January 2007 to step up his recovery from injury.

During Livingston's first season in the second tier, he scored ten goals for Livingston in the Scottish First Division during the 2007–08 season; he was offered a new contract at Livingston, but turned it down.

He also had a loan spell at Stirling Albion before moving to England in 2008, joining Leeds United.

After failing to impress during a trial spell with Barnsley, he joined League One team Leeds United in July 2008.

He left the Lions scoring 15 goals in 79 games.

After joining Leeds, Snodgrass came into the side for the first game of the season to make his debut against Scunthorpe United, gaining an assist after setting up Enoch Showunmi's headed goal.

He scored his first goal for Leeds in the 5–2 League Cup victory over Chester City.

After initially struggling to hold a regular place in the starting line-up, Snodgrass established himself after a string of impressive performances throughout November and December, which saw the young winger score four goals in seven games during a poor run of form for the Yorkshire club, culminating in the sacking of manager Gary McAllister.

Leeds reached the playoffs but ultimately were knocked out of the competition after losing 2–1 on aggregate to Millwall.

In his first season at Leeds, he scored 11 goals and got 19 assists.

On the eve of the season, Snodgrass signed a new four-year contract with the club.

He scored his first goals of the season with two against Watford in the League Cup second round, sending Leeds through to the third round.

Snodgrass scored a late winner against Milton Keynes Dons in a 1–0 win for Leeds for his first league goal of the season.

After playing for Scotland at various youth levels including under-21s, Snodgrass received a call up to the Scotland national team side in 2009, and won his first cap in February 2011.

He helped Leeds win promotion to the Championship in 2010.

In May 2010, he was selected in the League One PFA Team of the Year for the 2009–10 season.

Snodgrass played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to The Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion.

In his second season Snodgrass scored 10 goals in total and gained 14 assists.

On 27 July 2010, Snodgrass was believed to have suffered a serious knee injury during the pre-season game away to Norwegian team Brann after falling victim to a horrendous challenge by David Nielsen.

The knee injury ruled him out of the rest of the pre-season campaign, but after two scans on the injured knee, the injury was not as serious as first feared, but kept Snodgrass out for several weeks.

Manager Simon Grayson claimed that no exact timescale had been put on Snodgrass' recovery from injury.

Snodgrass returned to training at the start of September 2010.

To help gain match fitness after his injury, Snodgrass played 90 minutes in a closed-doors friendly against Middlesbrough.

In February 2012, Snodgrass was appointed captain of Leeds, but he rejected a new contract offer and moved to Norwich City later that year.

He left Norwich after they were relegated in 2014 and moved to Hull City.

On his league debut for Hull, Snodgrass suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for over a year.

Hull were relegated in his absence, but Snodgrass helped them gain promotion via the playoffs in 2016.

Snodgrass moved to West Ham United in January 2017, and he was loaned to Aston Villa for most of the 2017–18 season.

After Snodgrass left West Ham in January 2021, he had short stints with West Bromwich Albion, Luton Town and Heart of Midlothian at the end of his career.

Snodgrass retired from international football in October 2019, having made 28 appearances and scored seven goals for Scotland.

Born in Glasgow, Snodgrass grew up in the city's Gallowgate area; he played boys' club football for a team affiliated with Rangers alongside future international teammate James McArthur who is a month younger and lived a few blocks away.

Celtic offered him an apprenticeship, along with Clyde and Livingston.

He felt that he had little chance of breaking through at Parkhead, so chose Livingston, joining their setup at the same time as another East End boy who would go on to play for Scotland, Graham Dorrans.

Snodgrass started his career at Livingston, where he scored 15 goals in 79 league games.

He caught attention by turning down a trial with Spanish giants Barcelona.

Before he turned professional, he was offered a move to Blackburn Rovers, though he chose to stay with Livingston.