John Robertson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Robertson was a scruffy, uninterested-looking player when Brian Clough arrived in 1975, but Clough converted him from a sporadic midfielder into a left winger who became the creative heartbeat of Forest's greatest side. He put together a run of 243 consecutive appearances between December 1976 and December 1980. Clough called him 'the Picasso of our game' and said he was 'as fine as the Brazilians or the supremely gifted Italians' at delivering a ball. Forest captain John McGovern rated Robertson above Ryan Giggs, saying 'he had more ability than Ryan Giggs, his ratio of creating goals was better and overall he was the superior footballer'. Forest coach Jimmy Gordon went further, calling Robertson better than Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews.

In Their Own Story

The 1980 European Cup Final against Hamburger SV was a tight, tense affair in Madrid. With the game goalless, Robertson picked up the ball on the left, cut inside, and from an angle, drove a low shot past the Hamburg keeper for the only goal of the match. It was the second year running he had decided the final — in 1979 he had crossed for Trevor Francis to score the winner. Earlier, in the 1978 League Cup Final replay against Liverpool, it was Robertson who stepped up to score the decisive penalty. He also scored the winning goal for Scotland against England in the 1981 British Championship, a goal he later described as his 'greatest ever goal', and netted against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup.

Reader's Guide

Robertson joined Nottingham Forest in May 1970 from Drumchapel Amateurs and made his first-team debut later that year, but was used mainly as a midfielder and featured only sporadically. He was on the transfer list when Brian Clough arrived in 1975. Under Clough he was converted into a left winger and became a central figure, playing 243 consecutive games from December 1976 to December 1980. He scored the decisive penalty in the replayed 1978 League Cup Final against Liverpool, set up Trevor Francis's winner in the 1979 European Cup Final, and scored the only goal of the 1980 European Cup Final against Hamburg. He was sold to Derby County in June 1983 on a contested transfer, but injuries limited his impact. He rejoined Forest in August 1985 but never regained his previous form, later playing for non-league Corby Town, Stamford and Grantham Town. After retiring, he worked as chief scout and assistant manager to former teammate Martin O'Neill at Wycombe Wanderers, Shepshed Charterhouse, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.

Did You Know?

• Robertson scored the only goal in the 1980 European Cup Final against Hamburger SV, a year after setting up Trevor Francis's winner in the 1979 final.
• He played 243 consecutive matches for Nottingham Forest between December 1976 and December 1980.
• Brian Clough described Robertson as 'the Picasso of our game' and said he was 'as fine as the Brazilians or the supremely gifted Italians' at delivering a ball.
• A common myth claims Robertson scored the winning goal for Scotland against England in the 1981 British Championship, but that goal was actually netted by a different John Robertson, a defender.
• He was voted the favourite all-time Nottingham Forest player in a 2015 poll by the Nottingham Post.