The football world is mourning the loss of a true great, following the death of John Robertson on Christmas Day. The Nottingham Forest and Scotland legend, whose left foot orchestrated some of the club's finest hours under Brian Clough, has passed away at the age of 72.
A 'Scruffy, Unfit' Genius Forged by Clough
Robertson's journey to immortality at the City Ground was far from pre-ordained. In his own autobiography, the mercurial Brian Clough famously described a young Robertson as a "scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time". The Scot had even been placed on the transfer list, attracting little interest, before Clough performed his alchemy.
Clough's masterstroke was to shift Robertson from central midfield to the left flank and demand he curb a lifestyle reportedly rich in cigarettes and fried food. The transformation was spectacular. Robertson became an outside-left of rare intelligence, a player who made the difficult look effortless. He was pivotal in Forest's back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980, providing the cross for Trevor Francis's winner in 1979 and scoring the only goal against Hamburg a year later.
Scotland's Underappreciated Maestro
While Robertson was adored in Nottingham, his genius often felt underappreciated in his native Scotland. Winning just 28 caps between 1978 and 1983, his international tally seems scant for a player of his calibre, even in an era of fewer fixtures and fierce competition.
Yet he left an indelible mark in dark blue. His finest moment came at Wembley in 1981, where he coolly converted a penalty to secure a famous 1-0 victory for Scotland over England. For Robertson, that strike even eclipsed his European Cup final goal in personal significance. He also represented Scotland at two World Cups, in 1978 and 1982.
The Trusted Lieutenant Behind the Scenes
Robertson's football intelligence ensured a seamless transition into coaching, where he became the trusted right-hand man to another managerial great, Martin O'Neill. Their partnership flourished at Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic, and Aston Villa.
At Celtic, their alliance oversaw "one of the most successful periods in Celtic's history", revitalising the club and reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Robertson was the perfect foil to O'Neill's frontman: a coach with no airs or graces but a deep understanding of players and tactics. Stars like Stiliyan Petrov and Chris Sutton have spoken of him as a mentor and a formidable training-ground presence.
His later years were spent back in Nottingham, an adopted home for an adopted hero. John Robertson's story is one of a unique talent, shaped by a legendary manager and ultimately shared with generations of players he inspired. His legacy is secure in the annals of Forest, and now, rightly, in the heart of Scottish football history.
