Former Nottingham Forest and Scotland winger John Robertson has died at the age of 72.
Robertson, who began and ended his career at the City Ground while playing for local rivals Derby, became a cult hero at Forest after playing an integral part in the club’s European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.
Robertson headed in the only goal after supplying Trevor Francis with a cross against Sweden’s Malmö in Munich, helping Brian Clough’s side win the European Cup for the first time.
Twelve months later, Forest faced Hamburg at the Bernabéu in Madrid, successfully defending their European title, with Robertson again on the scoresheet in a 1–0 win.
He won 28 caps for Scotland over a five-year international career, including selection for the 1978 and 1982 World Cups.
Forest said in a statement: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend John Robertson.
“A true club great and two-time European Cup winner, John will never be forgotten for his unparalleled talent, humility and unwavering dedication to Nottingham Forest.
“Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and everyone who loved him.
“Rest in peace, Lobo…our great one.”
Born in Lanarkshire, Robertson signed for Forest at the age of 15, made his debut immediately at 17, and became a key player in Clough’s team winning the First Division in 1978 before winning the European Cup.
Robertson also won the League Cup twice with Forest before joining Derby in 1983.
After two years at Derby, Robertson returned to the City Ground in 1985, making 12 appearances in his final season before being released.
After retiring, Robertson moved into coaching as assistant to former Forest teammate Martin O’Neill at Celtic and Aston Villa.
Robertson: The ‘tramp’ who led Forest to two European Cup wins
John Neilson Robertson was born on 20 January 1953 and grew up in the Lanarkshire town of Uddingstone, just outside Glasgow, living in the same View Park area as another great Scottish winger, Jimmy Johnston.
The youngest of three children, his father Huey was a former miner who worked for the Electricity Commission and his mother worked at the local Tunnock biscuit factory.
Robertson signed for Forest at the age of 15, representing Scotland Schoolboys, and made his debut at 17.
John Robertson dies at age 72
Forest were relegated from the top flight in 1972, and although Robertson enjoyed a spell under Dave McKay, he fell out of favor with Clough’s predecessor Alan Brown, and Robertson unsuccessfully attempted to replace him with Partick Thistle’s Ronnie Glavine.
Despite this, Robertson was bizarrely mistakenly called upon by new England manager Don Revie when he named 90 players for a social gathering in 1974.
Clough jokingly called Robertson a “tramp” because of his appearance, but the winger was desperate for approval from his boss, writing in his 2012 autobiography, Super Tramp:
Robertson won titles, two League Cups and two European Cups. In the 1979 final, he overcame the death of his younger brother Huey in a car accident a few days before the semi-final, which caused him to smoke heavily, to score the only goal against Trevor Francis. He scored his own goal in the 1980 match against Hamburg.
Robertson won the European Cup twice with Forest.
His form with Forest earned him selection in Scotland’s squad for the 1978 World Cup, before making his international debut.
Robertson played in 28 games and scored eight goals, scoring against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup and scoring the winning goal at Wembley in 1981. Robertson then arranged a night out at Stringfellows with Forest’s England striker Tony Woodcock and arrived in London on the England team bus.
The first time he stopped playing for Clough was in 1983, when he shocked his mentor by signing Taylor for Derby as contract negotiations with Forest stalled. The deal ended the already fractious relationship between Taylor and Clough, with Robertson initially told he was not welcome at the City Ground.
This move was a disaster.
After Robertson’s first child, Jessica, was born with severe disabilities in preseason, Robertson’s mind wasn’t entirely set on work. With Forest returning to Europe, Derby struggled and were relegated from the Second Division at the end of the season.
Clough forgave Robertson and re-signed him in 1985, with the Scot making 12 appearances in his final season before being released.
Robertson won the First Division title in 1977/78 with Forest.
Aged 33, he was surprised to find no offers from league clubs and spent his unhappy days running a pub.
Life after football initially proved difficult for Robertson and his first wife Sally, who were embroiled in a protracted legal battle with the NHS over the treatment of their daughter at birth.
Jessica, who had cerebral palsy, was unable to communicate and died at the age of 13, but Robertson acknowledged that Jessica had helped her become more caring and compassionate.
Robertson split from his wife and spent his time sleeping on friends’ sofas, but his friendship with former Forest teammate Martin O’Neill helped him immensely.
Robertson played under O’Neill at non-league side Grantham, went on to work under him in insurance sales, and then went on to manage Grantham himself before working as a scout for him at Wycombe, Norwich and Leicester.
By the time the pair moved to Celtic in 2000, Robertson had become O’Neill’s right-hand man and bought a house in Uddingston.
“He was a special (coaching) partner, there’s no doubt about that,” O’Neill recalled when Robertson featured on BBC Scotland’s Icons of Football series in 2024.
“People, for lack of a better expression, believed in John. They really believed. There was something about him.”
Robertson’s last job in football was as Aston Villa’s assistant manager from 2006 to 2010.
In August 2013, Robertson was taken to hospital with a suspected heart attack while playing tennis with former Forest teammate Liam O’Kane, and had a stent inserted.
Robertson is survived by his daughter Elizabeth, his second wife Sharyl, and their children Andrew and Mark.
