Remembering John Robertson: The Picasso of Football
John Robertson , who passed away at the age of 72, was once hailed by the legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough as "the Picasso of our game."
Robertson struggled to find his place at the City Ground until Clough's arrival in January 1975, when his hidden talent and brilliance were unleashed, contributing significantly to Forest's success in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The left-winger became a pivotal figure in a team that clinched the First Division title and the League Cup in their first season following promotion in 1977-78. This was just the beginning of his remarkable journey.
Forest went on to achieve the extraordinary feat of winning the European Cup in 1979 against Malmö, with Robertson providing the perfect cross for Trevor Francis' decisive header. They retained the title the following year, with Robertson scoring the winning goal against SV Hamburg at the Bernabéu in Madrid.
Robertson was also at the center of the tumultuous split between Clough and his long-time managerial partner Peter Taylor in 1983. Clough never forgave Taylor, who was then managing Derby County, for signing Robertson without informing him, a decision that led to a tribunal to decide the transfer fee. Unfortunately, the rift was never mended before Taylor's death in 1992 at the age of 62.
Clough often playfully commented on Robertson's scruffy appearance and was aware of his smoking habit, but he believed it was worth it for the magic Robertson brought to the pitch with his exceptional two-footed skills, precise crossing, and ability to score crucial goals.
Having played for Scotland at schoolboy and youth levels, Robertson joined Forest as a teenager in 1970. Initially, he struggled to make an impact until Clough recognized his potential. In his autobiography, Clough described Robertson as "a scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time," yet he felt compelled to nurture him, leading to the emergence of one of football's finest playmakers.
Clough wrote, "If I ever felt off color, I would sit next to him. I was bloody Errol Flynn in comparison. But give him a ball and a yard of grass, and he was an artist, the Picasso of our game." Robertson idolized Clough, stating, "I knew he liked me, but I loved him. I wouldn't have had a career without him."
Robertson played 243 consecutive games from December 1976 to December 1980. Despite the presence of star players like England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and Trevor Francis, he was the heartbeat of the team. In Forest's first season back in the top flight under Clough, he played a crucial role in winning the title and scored the winning penalty against Liverpool in the League Cup final replay.
Former teammate Martin O'Neill remarked, "He was the most influential player in Europe for maybe three-and-a-half to four years," while Forest's captain under Clough, John McGovern, likened him to Ryan Giggs but with two strong feet. This was notable despite Robertson's admission that he lacked pace and tackling ability. Clough, however, valued his strengths, allowing him to focus on his talents, creating a perfect partnership between manager and player.
In a famous interview before the 1980 European Cup final against Hamburg, Clough confidently stated, "We’ve got a little fat guy who will turn him inside out, a very talented, highly skilled, unbelievable outside-left." And indeed, Robertson excelled, scoring a decisive goal just 20 minutes into the match.
Throughout his career at Forest, Robertson won the First Division title, two European Cups, and two League Cups, amassing 386 appearances and scoring 61 goals before his controversial move to Derby County. This transfer is often remembered more for the lasting division it caused between Clough and Taylor than for Robertson's later contributions, as he had already passed his peak years. A return to Forest in August 1985 did not yield significant results.
Robertson earned 28 caps for Scotland, participating in two World Cups in 1978 and 1982, scoring eight goals, including what he regarded as his "greatest ever goal"—the winner from the penalty spot in a 1-0 victory over England at Wembley during the 1981 Home International Championship.
In later years, Robertson played a vital role in the coaching staff of his former teammate O'Neill, joining him at various clubs including Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic, and Aston Villa. However, it is his brilliance under Clough's guidance at the City Ground that will forever define his legacy, as teammates fondly referred to him as "pure genius."