Scots football legend John Robertson has died at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy that belies the modesty with which he lived his life. The former winger and coach was known to his contemporaries as 'a bloody genius', capable of conjuring up goals from seemingly nowhere.
A key figure in the halcyon days of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough, Robertson's unique playing style – a deadly combination of pace, skill, and intelligence – left defenders grasping at air. His partnership with Clough was one for the ages, with Robertson's brilliance evident in their two European Cup final victories.
In Scotland, however, Robertson's contributions were often overlooked, despite his impact on the national team. The country has won only once at Wembley since 1981 – a game in which Robertson scored the winning goal against England. His international career was all too brief, with just 28 caps spread across five years.
But Robertson's influence extended far beyond the pitch. He formed an unbreakable bond with Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, who has spoken of his deep respect for Robertson as both a player and coach. Their partnership, which included stints at Wycombe, Norwich, Leicester, and Aston Villa, is widely regarded as one of the most successful in football history.
Behind the scenes, however, Robertson's personal life was marked by tragedy. The loss of his daughter Jessica to cerebral palsy at just 13 years old weighed heavily on him. His own father died of a broken heart within a year of her passing.
Despite this, Robertson continued to coach, inspiring a new generation of players with his no-nonsense approach and deep understanding of the game. He will be remembered by Scots fans for his remarkable goalscoring record and, more importantly, as an individual who consistently punched above his weight in a sport dominated by larger-than-life personalities.
As news of Robertson's passing filters through, Scotland's football community is left to reflect on the life and times of one of its greatest sons. One thing is certain: John Robertson may have been 'a bloody genius' on the pitch, but off it, he was a humble, unassuming hero who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A key figure in the halcyon days of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough, Robertson's unique playing style – a deadly combination of pace, skill, and intelligence – left defenders grasping at air. His partnership with Clough was one for the ages, with Robertson's brilliance evident in their two European Cup final victories.
In Scotland, however, Robertson's contributions were often overlooked, despite his impact on the national team. The country has won only once at Wembley since 1981 – a game in which Robertson scored the winning goal against England. His international career was all too brief, with just 28 caps spread across five years.
But Robertson's influence extended far beyond the pitch. He formed an unbreakable bond with Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, who has spoken of his deep respect for Robertson as both a player and coach. Their partnership, which included stints at Wycombe, Norwich, Leicester, and Aston Villa, is widely regarded as one of the most successful in football history.
Behind the scenes, however, Robertson's personal life was marked by tragedy. The loss of his daughter Jessica to cerebral palsy at just 13 years old weighed heavily on him. His own father died of a broken heart within a year of her passing.
Despite this, Robertson continued to coach, inspiring a new generation of players with his no-nonsense approach and deep understanding of the game. He will be remembered by Scots fans for his remarkable goalscoring record and, more importantly, as an individual who consistently punched above his weight in a sport dominated by larger-than-life personalities.
As news of Robertson's passing filters through, Scotland's football community is left to reflect on the life and times of one of its greatest sons. One thing is certain: John Robertson may have been 'a bloody genius' on the pitch, but off it, he was a humble, unassuming hero who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
just read about john robertson's passing and gotta say its sad that his legacy wasnt always recognized in scotland 
i mean we're still waiting for them to win a trophy since 1967 lol what happened to the golden generation of the 90s? anyway robertson's story is a reminder that success isnt always about being flashy or famous its about hard work and dedication 
and on a personal level its heartbreaking to think about what he went through with his daughter 
. But at the same time, he was just so humble and unassuming, it's like, what even is that? A bloody genius on the pitch, yet a humble hero off it? It doesn't add up, you know? I mean, if he was really that brilliant, wouldn't he have wanted to be more of a big deal? And don't even get me started on his personal life, losing his daughter at such a young age... it's just too much 
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. i always thought scottish footballers got a bad rep for being 'small' but robertson proved that's just not true, the guy was a genius on the pitch and off it too 
. what really gets me is how little recognition he got in scotland compared to how big of an impact he had on english and european football 
. anyway, robertson will be deeply missed by fans everywhere but his legacy lives on through the players he inspired and the goals he scored 
️. rest in peace john, your 'bloody genius' status is well-deserved 
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his legacy is so huge and yet he lived life so down to earth it's really inspiring to see how humble he was despite being called a 'bloody genius' on the pitch 
my heart goes out to scotland football fans & his family. what an incredible legacy tho! from nottingham forest's european cup wins to inspirin' a new gen of players with his no-nonsense approach. he may not have gotten the recognition he deserved while playin, but his impact on scottish footy is undeniable 