John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)

John Neilson Robertson (20 January 1953 – 25 December 2025) was a Scottish professional footballer. He played as a left winger for Nottingham Forest and Derby County. With Nottingham Forest, he notably assisted Trevor Francis's goal in the 1979 European Cup final against Malmö FF, and scored in the 1980 European Cup final against Hamburger SV. His transfer to Derby County in June 1983 was consider controversal, and helped worsen relations between Brian Clough and his former assistant Peter Taylor. He was also capped 28 times for Scotland, scoring eight goals, and playing for them at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups.

After retiring from football, he became an assistant manager under his former Nottingham Forest teammate Martin O'Neill at Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.

Robertson died on 25 December 2025, at the age of 72, following a long illness. He had previously had a suspected heart attack while playing tennis with former teammate Liam O'Kane in August 2013.This is Derbyshire

Personal life
Robertson's daughter Jessica was born in 1983 with cerebral palsy, which left her quadriplegic and not able to speak or control her movements. In 1994, Robertson and his former wife Sally challenged the hospital where Jessica was born for damages, and claimed that they had caused her brain damage by a 12-hour delay to carry out a Caesarean section. They lost their High Court case.

He released his autobiography, Supertramp, in September 2012. He supported Rangers as a boy, but described his time at Celtic as assistant to Martin O'Neill as the best years of his life in football.

In 2015, Robertson was voted first place in a poll by the Nottingham Post of favourite all-time Nottingham Forest players.

Career statistics
Club
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNottingham Forest1970–71First Division200000——201971–72First Division1300000——1301972–73Second Division3243000——3541973–74Second Division502000——501974–75Second Division2004110——2511975–76Second Division3952040——4551976–77Second Division4165320—9257111977–78First Division42126383——56181978–79First Division4293084921163161979–80First Division421121104932065191980–81First Division386624120205291981–82First Division3621051——4231982–83First Division3461053——409Total386613510471620514350295Derby County1983–84Second Division3124020——3721984–85Third Division4111041—20482Total7235061—20854Nottingham Forest1985–86First Division1101000——120Career total469644110531720516359999

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the FA Charity Shield, Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Trophy, European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup.

International
 Scotland national teamJohn Robertson profile National Football TeamsYearAppsGoals 1978  4  0 1979  5  2 1980  3  0 1981  7  4 1982  7  1 1983  2  1Total  28  8

International goals
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first
 Goal  Date  Venue  Opponent  Score  Result  Competition1.  7 June 1979  Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo    3–0  4–0  UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying2.  19 December 1979  Hampden Park, Glasgow    1–3  1–3  UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying3.  28 April 1981  Hampden Park, Glasgow   1–0  3–1  1982 FIFA World Cup qualification4. 2–05.  23 May 1981  Wembley Stadium, London    1–0  1–0  1981 British Home Championship6.  9 September 1981  Hampden Park, Glasgow    2–0  2–0  1982 FIFA World Cup qualification7.  15 June 1982  Estadio La Rosaleda, Málaga    4–2  5–2  1982 FIFA World Cup8.  21 September 1983  Hampden Park, Glasgow    1–0  2–0  Friendly

Honours
Nottingham Forest
First Division: 1977–78
League Cup: 1977–78, 1978–79
FA Charity Shield: 1978
European Cup: 1978–79, 1979–80
European Super Cup: 1979
Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1976–77

Individual
PFA Second Division Team of the Year: 1976–77
PFA First Division Team of the Year: 1977–78

References

Other websites


 John Robertson international stats LondonHearts.com

Category:1953 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Scottish footballers
Category:Derby County F.C. players
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Sportspeople from North Lanarkshire
Category:Scottish football managers