Scotland's footballing royalty, John Robertson, passed away on Christmas Day leaving behind a legacy of brilliance and unfulfilled promise. This former Scotland international is now being cherished by his homeland after years of neglect. The truth about Robertson's underappreciated status in Scotland has finally come to light.
When Martin O'Neill took over as manager of Celtic in 2013, many wondered how he would fare with a team that was not his own. What they didn't know was the key to his success lay in the unwavering trust he had placed in Robertson, a man who once struggled for recognition on the international stage.
For those unfamiliar with Robertson's story, let us delve into his footballing past. Born and bred in Glasgow's Viewpark estate, Robertson burst onto the scene at Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough's tutelage. With his unique blend of speed, skill, and unorthodox playmaking, he became a global phenomenon β a 'scruffy, unfit' genius who captivated fans worldwide.
However, with Scotland struggling to produce talented players, Robertson flew under the radar. His 28 caps for the national team feel paltry in retrospect, considering his influence on Forest's success during the European Cup era. Clough famously described Robertson as a "bloody genius," and O'Neill echoed those sentiments throughout their managerial partnership.
But what's lesser known is that Robertson's personal life was marred by tragedy. His daughter Jessica died of cerebral palsy at 13, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law were killed in a car accident while he had gifted them his vehicle.
Despite these challenges, Robertson continued to excel on the pitch. Who can forget his iconic goal against Hamburg in the European Cup final, or his memorable match-winning header against England at Wembley? These moments are etched into Scottish football lore, but Robertson's journey has been one of quiet dedication and perseverance.
When O'Neill took charge of Celtic, he brought Robertson with him, reuniting a partnership that produced remarkable results. The two became an unbreakable bond, with Robertson thriving under O'Neill's guidance as the club enjoyed a golden era of success.
In their final years together at Celtic, it was poetic to see Robertson watching his old friend and mentor achieve greatness in Scotland. Though O'Neill has long since moved on, Robertson's legacy lives on β finally being celebrated by those who should have been his greatest admirers all along.
When Martin O'Neill took over as manager of Celtic in 2013, many wondered how he would fare with a team that was not his own. What they didn't know was the key to his success lay in the unwavering trust he had placed in Robertson, a man who once struggled for recognition on the international stage.
For those unfamiliar with Robertson's story, let us delve into his footballing past. Born and bred in Glasgow's Viewpark estate, Robertson burst onto the scene at Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough's tutelage. With his unique blend of speed, skill, and unorthodox playmaking, he became a global phenomenon β a 'scruffy, unfit' genius who captivated fans worldwide.
However, with Scotland struggling to produce talented players, Robertson flew under the radar. His 28 caps for the national team feel paltry in retrospect, considering his influence on Forest's success during the European Cup era. Clough famously described Robertson as a "bloody genius," and O'Neill echoed those sentiments throughout their managerial partnership.
But what's lesser known is that Robertson's personal life was marred by tragedy. His daughter Jessica died of cerebral palsy at 13, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law were killed in a car accident while he had gifted them his vehicle.
Despite these challenges, Robertson continued to excel on the pitch. Who can forget his iconic goal against Hamburg in the European Cup final, or his memorable match-winning header against England at Wembley? These moments are etched into Scottish football lore, but Robertson's journey has been one of quiet dedication and perseverance.
When O'Neill took charge of Celtic, he brought Robertson with him, reuniting a partnership that produced remarkable results. The two became an unbreakable bond, with Robertson thriving under O'Neill's guidance as the club enjoyed a golden era of success.
In their final years together at Celtic, it was poetic to see Robertson watching his old friend and mentor achieve greatness in Scotland. Though O'Neill has long since moved on, Robertson's legacy lives on β finally being celebrated by those who should have been his greatest admirers all along.
Robertsons story is so underrated 
... he had some crazy struggles off the pitch but on it, he was a total genius 
. All these years people were talking about his lack of recognition in Scotland and now its like he's finally getting the props he deserved 
. O'Neill knew how to spot talent and bring out the best in him 
. Thats what makes their partnership so iconic 
. We should be celebrating Robertsons unorthodox playmaking skills, not just his goals 
. He was a true innovator on the pitch 
I'm so sad to hear about John Robertson's passing... 28 caps for Scotland? That's crazy considering the impact he had at Nottingham Forest and Celtic under Martin O'Neill 
The way O'Neill trusted him is just amazing, it's no wonder they had such success together. 
. But what's really cool is how he persevered on the pitch despite all that. I mean, who could forget those iconic goals against Hamburg and England? 
His legacy will definitely be celebrated by Scotland now... about time 
. I mean, he was playing with some of the best teams in Europe and still managed to fly under the radar. But now that Martin O'Neill is gone, it's like the whole country is finally coming around to recognizing Robertson as one of Scotland's greatests 
οΈ. It's about time, if you ask me 
. And let's be real, his personal life was a mess, but he still managed to put on a show every time he stepped onto the pitch 
... losing his daughter at such a young age, and then having another tragedy with his family members... it's heartbreaking 
how could they neglect someone who gave so much to the game? 
. It's great to see Scotland finally acknowledging Robertson's genius 
. He may not have had the recognition he deserved during his playing days, but his legacy lives on and will always be cherished by the Celtic faithful 
.
It's heartbreaking to think about John Robertson's untimely passing at 75 
. The fact that he was only just starting to get the recognition he deserved in Scotland is a tragedy 
. On the flip side, it's amazing to see Martin O'Neill finally giving Robertson the recognition he deserved during his time at Celtic 
. Let's hope Scotland can find a way to honor his legacy in a big way 
.
it's this adorable little cat figurine that's literally the cutest thing I've ever seen! I mean, have you guys seen those things? They're like tiny little bundles of joy and fluff 
. Anyway, back to Robertson... what was I saying? Oh yeah, his daughter Jessica... my friend lost their dog last year and it was so sad... anyway... 
. And let's not forget about all the challenges he faced off the pitch, including losing his daughter and loved ones in tragedy 
that guy brought out the best in him, they were like 2 peas in a pod on the pitch. his personal life is so sad tho, i mean losing ur kid and brother-in-law is just devastating 
οΈ. it's like they didn't even know what they had. and you feel bad for him too, personal life being all tough with his daughter passing away at 13 
. those two were meant to be together and look what happened 
. now that robertson's gone, it's nice to see scotland finally appreciating him for all he did for the sport 
he was a true Celtic legend and his partnership with Martin O'Neill is still talked about today 
but what really gets me is how hard life has been on him off the pitch 
struggled with personal demons but still managed to excel on the pitch 
his iconic goals against Hamburg and England will forever be etched into Scottish football lore 
what a legend, what an underdog story 
