The football world is in mourning after the death of John Robertson, the Nottingham Forest icon and European Cup hero, at the age of 72. The former Scotland winger, famously described by Brian Clough as the “Picasso of our game,” passed away leaving behind a legacy of magical moments etched in the history of two clubs and his country.
Robertson was the artisan of Forest’s golden era under Clough. It was his left foot that crafted their greatest triumphs: a perfect cross for Trevor Francis to head home against Malmo in 1979, and a coolly taken winner himself against Hamburg a year later to retain the European Cup. For Scotland, he delivered a famous winning goal against the Auld Enemy at Wembley in 1981 and scored at the 1982 World Cup. His 28 caps barely scratch the surface of his influence.
The tributes pouring in paint the picture of a unique talent. His old skipper, John McGovern, reckoned he was “like Ryan Giggs but with two good feet, not one.” But it was Clough who best captured his transformation from a “scruffy, uninterested waste of time” into one of the finest crossers of a ball he’d ever seen. “He turned into one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen, as fine as the Brazilians or the Italians,” Clough said, a quote that headlines his 2012 biography, Supertramp.
His club journey was the stuff of legend. Joining Forest in 1970, he became an ever present force, playing an incredible 243 consecutive games between 1976 and 1980. Alongside those European glories, he bagged the winner from the spot in the ‘78 League Cup final replay against Liverpool and won league titles in the old First and Second Division. A controversial move to Derby in ‘83, which shattered Clough’s relationship with Peter Taylor, was followed by an injury hit spell. He later returned to Forest but never recaptured those halcyon days, eventually seeing out his playing career in non league.
Robertson’s legacy extends far beyond the pitch. As Martin O’Neill’s trusted assistant, he enjoyed a stellar second act in coaching. The duo masterminded promotions with Wycombe and Leicester where they also won the League Cup before a trophy laden stint at Celtic. In Glasgow, they secured three league titles and reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final. A later spell with Aston Villa saw them finish as League Cup runners up in 2010.
In the end, John Robertson’s story is one of footballing genius recognised and refined. From a Viewpark council estate to conquering Europe, his was a left foot that painted masterpieces. For Forest fans, who voted him their favourite ever player in a 2015 poll, and for all who saw him play, he remains Clough’s untidy, unparalleled Picasso. The game has lost one of its great artists.
