British soccer mourns the loss of John Robertson. The former Scottish international has died at the age of 72.
“It is with deep sadness” that Nottingham Forest confirmed Robertson’s death in a club statement on Thursday. He would have celebrated his 73rd birthday in mid-January. “He was a true legend of our club” and “will never be forgotten for his incomparable talent, his modesty, and his unwavering loyalty to Nottingham Forest,” the Premier League club said on its website.
Robertson, who was born in Scotland, played continuously for the Tricky Trees from 1970 to 1983 and shaped the most successful period in the club’s history. In 1977, the attacking player was promoted to the first division with Nottingham and then achieved the feat of winning the championship as a promoted team.
Winning goal in the final against Zebec’s HSV
Two sensational successes in the European Cup followed in 1979 and 1980. Robertson finally cemented his place in Nottingham’s history in the 1980 final. Against Branko Zebec’s Hamburger SV, the winger scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory. His then coach Brian Clough once described Robertson as “the Picasso of our game.” In 1983, after 13 years in Nottingham, he moved to Derby County for two years before finally ending his career back with the Tricky Trees in 1986. In 2015, he was voted the greatest player in the club’s history in a poll conducted by the Nottingham Post.
Assistant coach after his career
Robertson played a total of 28 international matches for the Scottish national team and took part in the 1978 and 1982 World Cup finals. After his playing career, Robertson moved into the background and was assistant coach under Martin O’Neill at various clubs in British professional football, including Celtic Glasgow and Aston Villa.
“Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends, and all who loved him,” Nottingham Forest wrote in its statement. “Rest in peace, Robbo… our greatest.”
