Nottingham Forest has announced the passing of one of its most revered players, John Robertson, who died at the age of 72. Robertson, a legendary winger, was instrumental in the club's historic success, including two European Cup victories, and spent the majority of his illustrious career at the City Ground.

Known for his crucial contributions, Robertson scored the decisive goal in the 1980 European Cup final, securing Forest's second consecutive title after their triumph a year earlier. He also notably assisted the winning goal in the 1979 final. His talent extended to the international stage, where he earned 28 caps for Scotland, featuring in the 1982 World Cup in Spain and scoring against New Zealand.

After retiring as a player, Robertson continued his involvement in football, taking on various coaching roles. He served at clubs such as Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City, Celtic, Aston Villa, and Norwich City, impacting many players and colleagues with his guidance. His only departure from Forest during his playing career was a two-year spell with midlands rivals Derby County from 1983 to 1985.

Tributes have poured in from across the football world. The Scotland national team stated, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of John Robertson, following his passing today. Capped 28 times, Robertson was also a double European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest." Former Celtic, Blackburn, and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton remembered him as "an incredible player, a genius, a legend, a sharp-witted, funny man, a great friend and mentor to me."

Derby County expressed their sadness, extending their "deepest condolences and thoughts" to his family and friends. Former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool forward Stan Collymore described Robertson as "Forest's greatest ever player" and "one of the loveliest, kindest hearted humans I've met," praising his empathy and support as a coach at Leicester. Peter Shilton, Robertson's former teammate, expressed being "absolutely gutted" and shared fond memories of their time together.

The English Football League (EFL) hailed him as "the mercurial winger who lit up the Football League and conquered Europe with Nottingham Forest," calling him "a craftsman, a creator, a game-changer," and quoting Brian Clough's famous description of him as "a Picasso." UEFA also acknowledged his passing, highlighting his vital role in the European Cup finals and extending thoughts to his family, friends, and former teammates. Ashley Young, who played under Robertson at Aston Villa, posted a tribute, thanking him for his help in taking his career to "another level," a sentiment he noted his manager often echoed.