John Robertson, who legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough once described as “the Picasso of our game”, has died aged 72.
Robertson struggled at the City Ground until Clough’s arrival in January 1975, and the Scot’s intelligence and talent hidden beneath his slovenly appearance was unleashed to play a huge role in Forest’s great side of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
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In fact, the left-winger is widely regarded as the most influential player in the team, which won the First Division title and League Cup in their first season after promotion in 1977-78.
Incredibly, this is just the beginning.
Forest then went on to achieve greater success, not only winning the European Cup against Malmo in 1979 when Robertson provided the perfect left-wing cross for Trevor Francis’ decisive header, but also retaining the title the following year when his goal beat Hamburger SV at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
Robertson was also at the center of a bitter disagreement between Clough and his long-term management partner Peter Taylor in 1983.
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Clough never forgave Taylor, then manager of Derby County, for signing Robertson for a court-determined fee without informing him of his plans.
Much to Clough’s deep regret, the rift between the two men was never healed until Taylor’s death in 1992 at the age of 62.
Clough often poked fun at Robertson’s scruffy appearance and was aware of his smoking habit, but he believed it was all worth it because of the magic he brought with his talent for hugging the touchline with both feet, pinpoint crosses and knack for scoring crucial goals.
Robertson played for Scotland at junior and junior level before joining Forest as a teenager in 1970. He had been unable to make an impact until Clough arrived, but the great manager saw what he could develop.
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Clough wrote in his autobiography: “Few professional athletes looked more unlikely…sloppy, unhealthy, and an uninterested waste of time…But something told me he was worth sticking around for, and he became one of the best passers I have ever seen in football.”
He also wrote: “If one day I feel like something’s wrong, I’ll sit next to him. I’m fucking Errol Flynn by comparison. But give him a ball and a yard of grass and he’s an artist, the Picasso of our game.”
Clough is Robertson’s idol. Robertson said: “I know he likes me, but I love him. Without him I would have no career.”
Robertson played 243 consecutive games between December 1976 and December 1980, and despite the introduction of big-name players such as England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and Britain’s first million-pound footballer Francis, he remained the player who excited Forest.
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Robertson is Forest’s fulcrum, despite talent elsewhere.
In the 1977-78 season, Forest’s first season back in the top flight under Clough, Robertson not only played a crucial role in winning the championship, but also scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the League Cup final rematch against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
It wasn’t just Clough who recognized Robertson’s importance, former team-mate Martin O’Neill said: “He was probably the most influential player in Europe for three and a half to four years.”
John McGovern, Forest’s captain under Clough, said: “He’s like Ryan Giggs but with two good feet.”
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All of this is despite Robertson’s own admission that he has no pace and can’t tackle.
However, Clough isn’t worried about what Robertson can’t do, preferring to let him focus on what he can do. It’s the perfect football marriage between coach and player. Two maverick characters living in harmony.
In a famous interview before the 1980 European Cup final against Hamburg, who at the time had England captain Kevin Keegan, Clough was asked about the prospect of their great German right-back Manfred Kaltz silencing Robertson.
“We had a little fat guy who would turn him upside down,” Clough said. “A very talented, skilled, unbelievable left winger.”
Robertson became a trusted member of former Nottingham Forest team-mate Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff at several clubs [Getty Images]
Robertson proved to be outstanding, deciding the game after 20 minutes when he cut inside to exchange passes with forward Garry Birtles before beating Hamburg goalkeeper Rudi Kargus with his right foot from 20 yards.
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Robertson won the First Division title, two European Cups and two League Cups with Forest, scoring 61 goals in 386 games before moving to arch-rivals Derby County.
The transfer will be remembered more for the irreparable rift it created between Clough and Taylor than for Robertson’s exploits. He was now past his best years and a return to Forest in August 1985 was unsuccessful.
Robertson made 28 appearances for Scotland and participated in two World Cups in 1978 and 1982.
He scored eight goals for his country, including what he called “the greatest goal of all time”, the penalty shootout victory over England 1-0 at Wembley in the 1981 Home International Championship and the penalty shootout winner against New Zealand in the 5-2 World Cup victory in Spain in 1982.
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Robertson later became a key member of his former Forest colleague O’Neill’s backroom team, joining him during his spell as manager of Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.
However, it was his outstanding performances under the erratic Clough at the City Ground, described as “pure genius” by his fellow wingers, that will always be remembered.
