John Robertson Dies at 72: Scottish Football Mourns a European Cup Hero

• Nottingham Forest and Scotland icon John Robertson has died aged 72, with tributes pouring in across the football world for one of the game’s most influential wide players
• The legendary left winger was central to Forest’s historic rise in Europe, playing a decisive role in their back-to-back European Cup triumphs during the late 1970s and early 1980s
• Beyond his playing career, Robertson left a lasting mark on the game through a successful coaching partnership that delivered promotions, trophies and European finals across England and Scotland

Scottish football is in mourning following the death of former Scotland, Nottingham Forest and Derby County winger John Robertson, who passed away at the age of 72 on Christmas Day, 25 December 2025.

Regarded as one of the most technically gifted wide players of his era, Robertson was famously described by legendary manager Brian Clough as “the Picasso of our game.” His name is inseparable from Nottingham Forest’s golden period, during which his vision, balance and composure on the left flank helped fuel one of football’s greatest underdog success stories.

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Robertson played a defining role in Forest’s back-to-back European Cup triumphs. He scored the winning goal in the 1980 final against Hamburg, having delivered the cross for Trevor Francis’s iconic winner against Malmö a year earlier. Those two moments alone ensured his place among European football’s elite.

At the international level, Robertson won 28 caps for Scotland. He netted a memorable winner against England in 1981 and scored at the 1982 World Cup finals against New Zealand, consistently delivering on football’s biggest stages.

Nottingham Forest legend and a trophy-laden career

Born in Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, Robertson emerged through Drumchapel Amateurs and represented Scotland at the youth level before joining Nottingham Forest in 1970. His career trajectory changed dramatically following Clough’s arrival in 1975. Once transfer-listed, Robertson was transformed into an indispensable figure, going on to make an extraordinary 243 consecutive appearances between December 1976 and December 1980.

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His honours at the City Ground included First and Second Division titles, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Charity Shield and the Anglo-Scottish Cup. He also converted the decisive penalty in Forest’s 1978 League Cup final replay victory over Liverpool. In 2015, supporters voted him the club’s greatest-ever player in a poll conducted by the Nottingham Post.

A move to Derby County in 1983 strained relations between Clough and his former assistant Peter Taylor, while injuries limited Robertson’s impact. Although he later returned to Forest, he was unable to rediscover his peak form and concluded his playing career in non-league football.

Coaching success with Martin O’Neill

After retirement, Robertson enjoyed a highly successful coaching career as assistant manager to Martin O’Neill. Together, they achieved promotions with Wycombe Wanderers, lifted silverware with Leicester City, and oversaw a trophy-laden spell at Celtic, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups while also reaching a UEFA Cup final. His final coaching role came at Aston Villa, where the club finished runners-up in the League Cup in 2010.

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Robertson’s passing comes during a deeply sombre period for the football community. Macclesfield FC recently confirmed the tragic death of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod following a motorway car accident earlier this month. The year has also seen the loss of young footballers Finley Bone, who died after being struck by lightning in Australia, and another promising player who was killed in a motorbike collision in October.

Diogo Jota leaves behind wife and kids after tragic crash

Briefly News previously reported that Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, tragically lost his life in October 2025 in a devastating car accident, has left behind his wife Rute and their two children.

The accident occurred in Zamora, where the car in which Diogo Jota and his brother, André, were travelling veered off the road and ended up engulfed in flames.

Source: Briefly News