Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish and Steve Clarke made the presentation before Scotland’s Nations League meeting with Slovenia. Between them they cover the left-back’s international career: Strachan was in charge when he broke through, McLeish made him captain in 2018, and Clarke took him to three major tournaments. Pocognoli is the coach who has him now.
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The cap itself came in Skopje. Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-0, goals from Kieron Bowie and a John McGinn penalty, for Pocognoli’s first win. Robertson told BBC Scotland it meant everything to him and his family, and that he had told the squad he wanted the victory more than the presentation. He had about six shots in the opening minutes. Kenny Dalglish remains the men’s record holder on 102. Robertson is two away.
He has skippered Scotland more than anyone else. McLeish called him the outstanding candidate for the armband. Clarke built tournaments around him. The shirt and medal on the touchline put those three appointments in one place, with the current head coach handing over the mark for a century.
Slovenia at Hampden is the next game, not the landmark. The landmark was Saturday. The coaches who picked him, captained him and managed him were there to say so.