Legendary Scotland winger and Nottingham Forest star John Robertson, once described by Brian Clough as “a Picasso of our game,” has passed away at the age of 72. Known for his exceptional skill and vision on the wing, Robertson left an indelible mark on both club and country.
John Robertson played a pivotal role in Nottingham Forest’s European Cup successes. He scored the only goal as Forest retained the trophy by defeating Hamburg in 1980 and provided the assist for Trevor Francis’s winning goal against Malmo the previous season.
For Scotland, John Robertson also scored a memorable winning goal against England in 1981 and netted against New Zealand in the 1982 World Cup. Over his international career, Robertson earned 28 caps, establishing himself as one of Scotland’s most talented wingers.
Early Life and Rise of John Robertson
Born in Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, John Robertson began his football journey with Drumchapel Amateurs and the Scotland youth teams before joining Nottingham Forest in May 1970. Initially overlooked and placed on the transfer list, Robertson flourished under Brian Clough, appearing in 243 consecutive games between December 1976 and December 1980.
During this period, John Robertson scored the winning penalty in the 1978 League Cup final replay against Liverpool and helped Forest secure major trophies, including:
- First and Second Division titles
- Two Football League Cups
- 1978 FA Charity Shield
- UEFA Super Cup
- Anglo-Scottish Cup
In 2015, John Robertson was voted Nottingham Forest’s favourite all-time player in a fan poll.
In 1983, John Robertson transferred to Derby County for a contested fee, a move that strained relationships at Forest. Early injuries hampered his progress at Derby, and although he returned to Forest in 1985, Robertson never regained his peak form. He later played for non-league sides including Corby Town, Stamford, and Grantham Town before retiring.
Coaching Career
After retiring, Robertson became assistant manager to former teammate Martin O’Neill at clubs such as Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic, and Aston Villa.
- During this coaching career, John Robertson contributed to:
- Wycombe Wanderers’ promotion from the Football Conference and Third Division
- Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and League Cup success
- Celtic’s three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups, one League Cup, and UEFA Cup final appearance
- Aston Villa’s League Cup runners-up finish in 2010
Tributes and Lasting Influence of John Robertson
Former Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern described Robertson as “like Ryan Giggs but with two good feet, not one,” highlighting his rare technical skill. Brian Clough, who initially criticised Robertson as a “scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time,” transformed him into “one of the finest deliverers of football I have ever seen, as fine as the Brazilians or the Italians.”
Robertson’s extraordinary talent, vision, and dedication ensured his place as an enduring icon in Scottish and Nottingham Forest football history.
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