Former Scotland, Nottingham Forest and Derby County winger John Robertson – once described by manager Brian Clough as “the Picasso of our game” – has died aged 72.
Robertson scored the only goal as Nottingham Forest beat Hamburger SV to retain the European Cup in 1980, and he scored the winner against Malmo the previous season and provided a cross for Trevor Francis.
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Playing for Scotland, he scored the winning goal against England in 1981 and scored against New Zealand in the 1982 World Cup finals.
He made 28 appearances for his country before becoming assistant manager to former Forest team-mate Martin O’Neill at Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.
Clough was quoted in his 2012 biography Supertramp as describing him as “sloppy, unhealthy, boring and a waste of time” but turned him into “one of the best football passers I have ever seen, as good as the Brazilians and the Italians”.
His captain at Forest, John McGovern, described him as “like Ryan Giggs, but with two feet instead of one” and with greater ability.
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Trophies, goals and success spells
Robertson was born in the Viewpark area of North Lanarkshire and played for Drumchapel Amateurs and Scotland’s youth teams before joining Forest in May 1970 and making his debut later that year.
He was on the transfer list before Clough arrived in 1975 and went on to become a key player under the iconic manager, playing 243 games between December 1976 and December 1980.
When defeating Liverpool in the 1978 League Cup final replay, Robertson scored the winning penalty kick.
In 1983 he was sold to Derby County for a huge fee, a move that soured relations between Clough and his former assistant Peter Taylor.
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Early injuries hampered Robertson’s progress with County and although he rejoined Forest in 1985, he never regained the same form and moved to non-league clubs Corby Town, Stamford and Grantham Town.
At Forest, he also won the First and Second Division titles, the European Super Cup, two Football League Cups, the 1978 FA Charity Shield and the Anglo-Scottish Cup.
In 2015, Robertson topped the Nottingham Post’s poll of Forest’s favorite players in history.
As O’Neill’s assistant, Robertson helped Wycombe gain promotion from the Football Association and Third Division, and was promoted to the top flight with Leicester City and won the League Cup.
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He then had an even more successful spell with Celtic.
In Glasgow, they won the Scottish Premiership three times, the Scottish Cup three times, the League Cup once, and reached the UEFA Cup final.
In 2010, Robertson’s last season in charge, Villa finished second in the League Cup final.