John Robertson, the Nottingham Forest and Scotland legend, has died at the age of 72. Robertson was a hugely important part of the great Forest team that under Brian Clough rose from the second tier of English football to win multiple major honours, most famously back-to-back European Cups.
Robertson assisted the decisive goal in the first European Cup triumph in 1979 and scored the decisive goal in the second, contributions that mark him out as one of the most remarkable players in British football history. He earned 28 Scotland caps, notably scoring the winning goal in a Home Championship victory over England at Wembley in May 1981. Clough described him as “the Picasso of our game”.
Forest said in a statement: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend, John Robertson. A true great of our club and a double European Cup winner, John’s unrivalled talent, humility and unwavering devotion to Nottingham Forest will never ever be forgotten. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Robbo … Our greatest.”
A statement from Robertson’s family said: “John passed away peacefully on Christmas morning with his wife and family by his side, after a long illness. Our only comfort in our grief is that his struggles are now over, and he is reunited with daughter Jessica. “Robbo” was treasured by many as a footballing hero but to us he was just John and dad, the family man … kind, loving, witty, fun and loyal. Although our hearts are breaking, we will always be grateful for the years we were privileged to share with him and the amazing memories.”
Born in Uddingston, Lanarkshire in January 1953, Robertson played for Drumchapel Amateur FC before joining Forest in May 1970. A winger, he initially struggled to make an impact at the City Ground, mainly owing to a lack of professionalism characterised by a love of drinking, smoking and eating fried food. His career appear to be going nowhere until a showdown meeting with Clough’s assistant, Peter Taylor, in the summer of 1976. Taylor told Robertson in the starkest terms that he either changed his ways or he would be kicked out of the club immediately.
Robertson knuckled down and although he did not entirely clean up his off-pitch habits, he did so enough to allow his talent to shine. Two-footed, skilful, imaginative and hard-working, he became a fundamental part of the Forest team that went on an incredibly journey under an incredible manager.
John Robertson pictured in October 2015 outside the City Ground. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian
Under Clough, Forest won the First Division in 1978, a year after being promoted to the top tier. They also won the League Cup in 1978, a trophy they retained the following season when they secured the first of their European Cups, beating Malmö at the Olympic Stadium in Munich thanks to a Trevor Francis header from Robertson’s driving run and cross from the left wing.
It was from the same flank that Robertson made the telling contribution in the following year’s final, drifting in before hitting a low, skidding shot from the edge of the area that sealed Forest’s win over Hamburg at the Bernabéu.
Robertson made more than 500 appearances for Forest, scoring 95 goals, another of his most telling being the penalty against Liverpool that sealed the 1978 League Cup in a replay. He joined Derby in 1983 before returning two years later to Forest, where he remained for a season before having spells in non-league. Derby said in a statement that their “deepest condolences and thoughts are with John’s family and friends”.
After retiring as a player Robertson had a hugely successful spell in coaching, including five years as assistant to his former Forest teammate Martin O’Neill at Celtic, during which the club won three league titles and reached the final of the Uefa Cup. Robertson also worked alongside O’Neill at Wycombe, Norwich, Leicester and Aston Villa.
One of his players at Leicester, Stan Collymore, wrote on X that Robertson was “one of the loveliest, kindest-hearted humans I’ve met. At Leicester with Martin O’Neill he knew of my issues and problems and instead like many, who mocked them, he put a literal arm around me, had words of empathy and kindness and genuinely gave me support.”
Robertson appeared at two World Cups, scoring in a 5-2 victory over New Zealand at the 1982 finals in Spain. He had made his World Cup debut against Iran four years earlier. The Scottish national team X account paid tribute to Robertson.
Clough was not always nice about a player who, by his own admission, was not the most striking of athletes, describing him as “scruffy and unfit” and “a very unattractive young man”, but he was also in no doubt regarding Robertson’s importance to his team. Asked on 27 May 1980, a day before the European Cup final, how Forest would deal with Hamburg’s Manny Kaltz, then considered one of the best right-backs in the world, Clough replied: “We have got a little fat guy who will turn him inside out.” He was proven right.
