"I feel weird being called Antonee. I prefer being called Jedi." That quote tells you everything about how deep this nickname runs — and it started with a five-year-old and a youth soccer jersey.
Antonee Robinson, one of the best left-backs in international football right now, has gone by "Jedi" for the better part of his life. The origin is exactly as fun as it sounds: as a kid growing up in Milton Keynes, Robinson was obsessed with Star Wars. So he did what any self-respecting young fan would do — he put "Jedi" on the back of his youth shirt. It stuck. Permanently.
A nickname that outlasted everything else
Most childhood nicknames fade by the time you hit your teens. Robinson's followed him through the Everton academy, loan spells at Bolton and Wigan, a permanent move to Fulham in 2020, and all the way to the USMNT setup where he's now a 54-cap senior international. His family is split — mom, dad, brother and his fiancée all call him "Jedi" or "Jed," while his sisters stick to Antonee — but in football circles, "Jedi" is just who he is.
The nickname only reached mainstream attention around 2022, which says something about how long Robinson spent developing quietly before breaking through at the top level.
The player behind the name
Born in England on August 8, 1997, Robinson qualifies for the United States through his father, who was born in White Plains, New York. He came through England's youth ranks at Everton from age 11 but never made a senior appearance for the club before being sold to Wigan. England called him into their U-21 setup in March 2018 — he declined and committed to the US instead. Given what followed, it's hard to argue with the decision.
He made his senior USMNT debut on May 28, 2018 against Bolivia, played the full 90 and registered an assist in a 3-0 win. Since then he's become a fixture at left-back, racking up over 200 appearances for Fulham in the Premier League and cementing himself as the clear first choice for a position that's historically been a weak spot for the US. Five international goals from a left-back is a genuine attacking return too.
Whatever you call him — Antonee, Jed, or Jedi — the player is the same: one of the most consistent performers the USMNT has produced in years.
