Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson dies at 72: 'Picasso of our game'
- - Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson dies at 72: 'Picasso of our game'
Reuters December 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
0
Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson dies at 72: 'Picasso of our game'
John Robertson, the Nottingham Forest winger described by his manager Brian Clough as "a Picasso of our game", has died at the age of 72, the Premier League club said on Thursday.
He was a key member of Clough's all-conquering Forest team, assisting Trevor Francis's winner in their 1979 European Cup final victory over Malmo before scoring himself to sink Hamburg in the 1980 final.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend, John Robertson," Forest said in a statement.
"A true great of our club and a double European Cup winner, John’s unrivalled talent, humility and unwavering devotion to Nottingham Forest will never ever be forgotten."
Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game losing streak in Premier League games for the defending champions.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kYdtaVueMLwF0aci0kqpCQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/42a5455477af5b57687b73c6578e185c class=caas-img data-headline="Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 season" data-caption="
Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game losing streak in Premier League games for the defending champions.
">Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game losing streak in Premier League games for the defending champions.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kYdtaVueMLwF0aci0kqpCQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/42a5455477af5b57687b73c6578e185c class=caas-img>Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri (right) and Burnley's Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal won the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to stay six points above Manchester City atop the Premier League table.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uhZDMWDU3NyWZBjTseM9Zg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3424a7b59616e69d5080b80b8c81f8d1 class=caas-img data-headline="Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 season" data-caption="
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri (right) and Burnley's Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal won the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to stay six points above Manchester City atop the Premier League table.
">Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri (right) and Burnley's Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal won the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to stay six points above Manchester City atop the Premier League table.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uhZDMWDU3NyWZBjTseM9Zg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3424a7b59616e69d5080b80b8c81f8d1 class=caas-img>
Erling Haaland of Manchester City competes for a header whilst under pressure from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man City won the match, 1-0.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/2lstiC40QD2w.llQ_rkgnA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a194910d83efc72dc15481165b4b4c17 class=caas-img data-headline="Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 season" data-caption="
Erling Haaland of Manchester City competes for a header whilst under pressure from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man City won the match, 1-0.
">Erling Haaland of Manchester City competes for a header whilst under pressure from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man City won the match, 1-0.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/2lstiC40QD2w.llQ_rkgnA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a194910d83efc72dc15481165b4b4c17 class=caas-img>
1 / 38Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonLeandro Trossard scores Arsenal's first goal in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Nov. 23.
Robertson spent most of his career at the City Ground, making over 500 appearances across two stints at the club.
Clough once described him as a "scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time" who became "one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen", usually with his cultured left foot.
Robertson was a stalwart of Forest's meteoric rise from the second division to winning the English first division title the following season in 1978 before the two European Cup triumphs.
He earned 28 caps for Scotland, scoring the winning goal against England in 1981, and served as assistant manager to former Forest teammate Martin O'Neill at several clubs, including Aston Villa.
"Rest in peace, Robbo… Our greatest," Forest said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Robertson dies: Nottingham Forest legend won titles
Source: “AOL Sports”
