Snodgrass: Robert

2008-2012 (Leeds Player Details) (Player Details)

Winger

Born: Glasgow, Scotland: 07/09/1987

Debut v Scunthorpe United (a): 09-08-2008

6’ 12st 2lb (2008)

Scottish international Snodgrass was offered a youth contract by Celtic, Clyde and Livingston and chose the latter as they were prepared to provide transport to and from his Gallowgate home to their training facilities and he duly signed for them as a trainee in July 2003. Before Snodgrass turned professional, he was offered a move to Blackburn Rovers, but chose to stay with Livingston. He also turned down the offer of a trial with Barcelona. He broke into the Livingston team as he turned seventeen. He made his debut as a Sixty-fifth minute substitute for Colin McMenamin against Kilmarnock in a 0-2 home defeat on 11th September 2004. He impressed the fans and Manager Allan Preston. However, he suffered because of being late for training and was punished with fines and kept out the team. He soon got his act together and forced his way into the Livingston team. He made his first start in a 0-0 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle on 3rd October 2004 and the youngster was impressive. In Livingston’s next game, against Dunfermline Athletic at home, he again started in a 2-0 win. The youngster shone through and scored his first goal, with a very impressive effort in the forty-first minute. However, he soon suffered an injury which set back his first team opportunities. He had to be patient and wait for his next chance and when that came along he scored another two goals. He made a total of eight starts and ten substitute appearances which was outstanding for one of such tender years. Snodgrass had played sixteen League games for them in their Scottish Premier League season of 2005-06, scoring twice and adding a further one in the Scottish Cup. He had already played six times for the Scottish Under-Seventeen and three times for the Under-Eighteen side when he was called up into the Scotland Under-Nineteen squad for the UEFA European Championships in Poland. He had already had plenty of experience at Under-Nineteen level as he had been involved in the 2005-06 Qualifying group in Switzerland where he had played two of the three games, playing a full game in the 1-0 win over Finland at La Blancherie Stadium, Delemont, on 9th October 2005 and then coming on as a seventy-sixth minute substitute for Graham Dorrans in a 0-0 draw with Switzerland at the same venue two days later. He had also played his part in getting through the Elite Round in Belarus, playing a full game in each of the three games. The first being against the host nation at Gradski Stadium, Borisov, where he got Scotland off to a flying start with the first goal of the game after just eight minutes as they won 2-1 on 16th May 2006. The other two games were played at the Traktor Stadium in Minsk, the first on 18th May, when Scotland defeated Bulgaria 2-1 and the second two days later when they drew 1-1 with France. He played a big part in Scotland reaching the Final. He started the first game of the finals in a 2-2 draw with Portugal at the Szamotulski Osrodek Sportu, Szamotuly on 18th July 2006, but gave way to Graham Dorrans after eighty-six minutes. He also picked up a yellow card in the fifty-third minute. Two days later he played a full game as Spain scored four without reply at Huragan Stadium, Pobiedziska. He almost played a full game three days later as he was substituted by Michael McGlinchey in the ninetieth minute in a 3-2 win over Turkey at Stadion Miejski in Swarzedz. The win saw Scotland advance to the Semi-Finals, and on 26th July he came on as a half-time replacement for Steven Fletcher in the 1-0 win over the Czech Republic for his fourth cap but disaster struck as he was booked in the eighty-ninth minute and both he and Steven Fletcher were suspended for the final at the Stadion Miejski, Poznan three days later in which Scotland were beaten 1-2 by Spain. He had gained thirteen caps at Under-Nineteen level. In 2006-07 he scored four times in twenty-five Scottish Premier League matches. He spent the latter half of the season on loan at Scottish Division Two side, Stirling Albion, helping them to the play-offs and to promotion into the Scottish First Division. While there he scored five goals in twelve starts in the League and scored twice in the second leg of the play-off finals to give them a 2-0 lead and ensure they went on to win on aggregate by 5-4 over Airdrieonians. He scored twice in two starts and one game as a substitute in those play-offs. He was called up to the Scottish Under-Twenty squad for the World Cup in Canada, making his debut as a fifty-ninth minute substitute for Ross Campbell in a warm-up friendly at Firhill, Glasgow in a 4-0 win over Northern Ireland on 24th May 2007. He came on as a sixty-first minute substitute for Ryan Conroy in the opening game of the group in a 1-3 defeat by Japan on 1st July 2007 at Royal Athletic Park, Victoria. Three days later at the same venue he started the game in a 0-2 defeat by Nigeria, by was replaced by Ryan Conroy in the seventy-ninth minute. He was again a substitute for his fourth cap, three days later at Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, as Chile were winners by 2-1 and so Scotland were eliminated as Snodgrass replaced Sean Lynch in the seventy-second minute. In 2007-08, playing as a left winger he managed ten goals in thirty-seven games. He was one of many impressive Livingston youngsters. He made his debut for the Scotland Under-Twenty-One side on 6th February 2008 in the Toulon Tornament but was replaced by Ryan Conroy, who scored the second goal in a 2-2 draw with Ukraine. The roles were reversed for his second cap on 20th May 2008 when Scotland were beaten 1-4 by Norway at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock. In his time with Livingston he scored fifteen goals in seventy-nine Scottish League appearances of which thirty-one were as a substitute. In the Cups he netted twice from nine starts and four games from the bench. He also made one appearance as a substitute in other games. Snodgrass rejected a new contract with Livingston at the end of the 2007–08 season and signed for Leeds United on 24th July 2008 for an undisclosed fee based on compensation due to his age. News of United's interest in him broke only hours before the signing was completed, which was the way Leeds United have liked to do business under Ken Bates. He was the fourth summer signing by Gary McAllister. Snodgrass made his League debut against Scunthorpe United in the first game of the 2008-09 League One season, playing in the wide right position. After initially struggling to hold a place in the starting eleven, Snodgrass re-established himself after a string of impressive performances throughout November and December, which saw the young winger score four goals in seven games even though Leeds were going through a form slump which led to the sacking of Manager Gary McAllister. His ability to play on either wing and pose a threat as a striker soon made him one of the players that new Manager Simon Grayson had first on his teamsheet. Immensely popular with the Leeds fans he signed a new four year contract on 7th August 2009 and quickly settled into his rhythmn of the previous season and an outstanding game against Liverpool in the Carling Cup saw him called into the Scotland squad. Unfortunately, an injury to his knee and ankle in the home draw with Carlisle United saw him miss the top of the table clash with Charlton Athletic and forced him to pull out of the Scottish squad. After being elected YEP Leeds United "Player of the Year" and Leeds United Regional Members "Player of the Year" in 2008-09, his popularity was increased even more by his outstanding performances in 2009-10 which saw him be a major contributor to the successful Leeds campaign which ultimately saw them gain promotion to the CCCL. His success was such that he was selected in the PFTA League One "Team of the Year" for that season in May 2010. His record shows that he has plenty of pace and also possesses goalscoring ability. On the international scene, with Leeds being involved in the League One play-offs against Millwall in May 2009, Snodgrass wasn't available to play in a Scotland 'B' international. On 1st October 2009 he was called up for the full squad for Scotland for a friendly with Japan, but had to pull out due to injury. He was the subject of an horrific tackle by a SK Brann defender in Bergen in a pre-season friendly on 27th July 2010 and, although it meant he missed the rest of the pre-season games it was not as serious as first thought and he made his welcome return as a sixty-seventh minute substitute at Doncaster Rovers on 17th September 2010. He was again on the bench for the next game against Sheffield United at Elland Road on 25th September 2010 and, after coming on as a sixtieth minute substitute for Lloyd Sam and in the eighty-fourth minute he set up Bradley Johnson for the only goal of the game. Unfortunately, he was sent off with two minutes left on the clock after a challenge on Leon Britton, which left him clutching his face. After serving his suspension Snodgrass returned to the Leeds starting line up on 2nd October 2010 for the away game with Ipswich Town and scored United's only goal in a 1-2 defeat. He had a fine game against Coventry City on 6th November 2011 and scored the Leeds second goal in a 3-2 away win. He had to wait until Boxing Day for his next goal at Leicester City, but his form was good and he was a marked man. He was taken off in the seventy-seventh minute of the home clash with Middlesbrough, on New Year's Day, after several bad tackles from Barry Robson, but he was fit to play in the next fixture at Cardiff City and he scored with another long range effort, which were fast becoming his speciality. He scored the Leeds equalizer from the spot as they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium and his scoring form continued with further goals at Hull City and Bristol City. He was selected as the Championship player of the month for both the months of January and February, but his season finished on a low note as he missed the final game of the season with a back injury. He had scored seven goals in thirty nine appearances, of which three had been as a substitute, in all competitions in the season. He had made his full international debut on 9th February 2011, when he had come on as a fifty-eighth minute substitute for Steven Naismith as Scotland beat Northern Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. He had also been called up to the Scotland squad to face Brazil on 21 March 2011, when he came on as an seventy-seventh minute substitute for Charlie Adam as Scotland were beaten 0-2 by Brazil at the Emirates Stadium. Snodgrass was ruled out of Scotland's Nations Cup matches against Wales and Republic Of Ireland in May 2011 by the back injury. In June 2011 Leeds valued Snodgrass at £8 million and on 10th August 2011 he was given his starting debut for Scotland against Denmark at Hampden Park and he celebrated this by getting his first International goal when he scored in the forty-third minute in a 2-1 win over Denmark, before he was replaced with two minutes left on the clock by Grant Hanley. He added his fourth Cap as an eighty-fourth minute substitute for Barry Bannan in a 1-0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 2012 qualifier at Hampden Park on 6th September 2011. Snodgrass had a fine 2011-12 season, scoring regularly and often the star performer. He scored seven goals in eight matches between 30th October and 10th December 2011. He was out of action for a short while when he had to have an appendix operation on 31st December 2011, but was back in action two weeks later. He then added a further three goals in four matches and was appointed as the Leeds Captain by new Manager Neil Warnock on 25th February 2012. That was four days before he gained his fifth Scottish cap as a sixty-first minute substitute for Craig Mackail-Smith in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia at the Bonifika Stadion, Koper, on 29th February 2012. He finished the season with thirteen goals in forty-three starts and one game as a substitute in all competitions. He won the Leeds' Fans "Player Of The Year" and Players' "Player Of The Year" awards at the end of season. Neil Warnock offered him a new contract which would make him Leeds' highest paid player. Unfortunately for Leeds he did not accept that offer and on 27th July 2012 he finally signed for Norwich City on a three year contract for £3 million. He became the third Leeds midfielder to move to Carrow Road, following Bradley Johnson and Jonathan Howson. Canaries manager Chris Hughton was also guided by Wes Hoolahan, who played alongside the Scotsman at Scottish side Livingston. He made his debut for the Canaries on the opening day of the 2012-13 season as Norwich were heavily beaten 5-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage and Snodgrass was replaced by Elliott Bennett after fifty-six minutes, but Chris Hughton persevered and was rewarded by his first goal five minutes from time in a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on 1st September 2012. At first goals were hard to come by as both Norwich and Snodgrass found it hard to find the net but as the season approached the halfway mark the goals started to flow as Norwich climbed the table to finish eleventh and Snodgrass scored six goals in the League and one in the F.A. Cup in thirty-six League, one F.A. Cup and two League Cup games. He had been a regular and performed well and came second in the club's "Player of the Year" award. He also added another four caps, taking his collection to nine by the end of the season. On 15th August 2012 he played a full game in the 3-1 win over Australia at Easter Road, Edinburgh. He then started against Serbia in a World Cup Qualifier at Hampden Park on 8th September 2012 and was replaced by James Forrest after sixty-nine minutes in a 0-0 draw. He was a second half substitute for Chris Burke in a 1-0 win over Estonia at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, when he came on after the half-time break. However, there was another full game in the World Cup Qualifier with Wales at Hampden Park when they were beaten 1-2. During the close season he gained his tenth cap in another World Cup Qualifier, with Croatia at the Maksimir Stadion, Zagreb, on 7th June 2013, in which he played a full game and also scored his second International goal with the only goal of the game in the twenty-sixth minute. There was a Friendly game with England at Wembley, which he started but was replaced by Craig Conway after sixty-six minutes, in a 2-3 defeat on 14th August 2013. Once more he was Norwich's main man scoring six goals in the League and one in the F.A. Cup as the Canaries struggled all season before finally being relegated, with Snodgrass playing thirty League, two League Cup and two F.A. Cup games. He added four more caps to his tally to take it to fifteen with two more World Cup Qualifiers at Hampden Park, the first a 0-2 defeat by Belgium on 6th September 2013 which he started but was replaced in the fifty-ninthy minute by Ikechi Anya, and the second on 15th October, which again saw him in the starting line-up and open the scoring in the twenty-eighth minute for his third International goal, before being replaced by James McArthur in the eighty-first minute in a 2-0 win over Croatia. The other two were both Friendlies, the first at Hampden Park on 15th November 2013 in which he started before giving way to Ross McCormack in the sixty-ninth minute in a 0-0 draw with the USA. Four days later he played a full game in a 1-0 win over Norway at Aker Stadium, Molde. While at Carrow Road he scored twelve League goals in sixty-seven League games, three of which were as a substitute, he also scored twice in three F.A. Cup ties and started in four League Cup without scoring. On 30th June 2014 Robert Snodgrass passed a medical at Hull and both clubs agreed a fee for the midfielder. Snodgrass had one year left on his current contract with Norwich, but had told the club he would not be signing an extension as he wanted to return to the Premier League. A number of clubs had been chasing Snodgrass ever since their relegation from the top-flight. He signed a three year contact with Hull, who paid £6 million for his services. In his first League game for Hull, in a 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers on 16th August 2014, he dislocated his knee. This required surgery and it was expected that he would be out of action for at least six months.