Scotland, still reeling from the news of John Robertson's passing on Christmas Day, is grappling with a sense of loss that belies his modest national record. A player who scored an incredible 24 goals in European competitions, including two crucial strikes in the 1980 European Cup final against Hamburg, should be far more cherished by his compatriots than he ever was.
For Robertson's brilliance on the pitch was matched only by his off-field humility and charm. The wizened coach, with a 'scruffy, unfit' reputation that belies the truth, earned the trust of Brian Clough, who famously declared him "a bloody genius." His ability to make the improbable look effortless was a hallmark of his game.
Robertson's most iconic goal, scored in 1980 against Hamburg, still haunts England defenders. The memory of that moment is etched into the minds of Celtic fans, where Robertson formed an unstoppable alliance with manager Martin O'Neill in the early 2000s. A partnership that yielded five league titles and three Scottish Cups, cementing their status as one of the most successful spells in Celtic's history.
Yet, despite his incredible on-field achievements, Robertson struggled to find recognition in Scotland. His playing career was hampered by a move to Derby County, which led to an acrimonious split between him and Brian Clough. The move also left Robertson with little time to focus on family life, as his daughter Jessica's death at 13 weighed heavily on his mind.
Today, O'Neill returns to manage Celtic, but Robertson is gone too soon. A hero in Scotland who deserved far more than the recognition he received during his playing days. His legacy will be cherished by those who knew him best – his family, friends, and former teammates like Chris Sutton, who have long revered his influence on and off the pitch.
The passing of John Robertson leaves a void in Celtic's history books, but it also serves as a poignant reminder that even the most gifted individuals can fly under the radar if they don't have the right support network. As Scotland mourns the loss of this footballing legend, one thing is certain – Robertson will always be remembered as one of Scotland's greatest exports, a man whose on-field brilliance was only matched by his off-field humility and charm.
For Robertson's brilliance on the pitch was matched only by his off-field humility and charm. The wizened coach, with a 'scruffy, unfit' reputation that belies the truth, earned the trust of Brian Clough, who famously declared him "a bloody genius." His ability to make the improbable look effortless was a hallmark of his game.
Robertson's most iconic goal, scored in 1980 against Hamburg, still haunts England defenders. The memory of that moment is etched into the minds of Celtic fans, where Robertson formed an unstoppable alliance with manager Martin O'Neill in the early 2000s. A partnership that yielded five league titles and three Scottish Cups, cementing their status as one of the most successful spells in Celtic's history.
Yet, despite his incredible on-field achievements, Robertson struggled to find recognition in Scotland. His playing career was hampered by a move to Derby County, which led to an acrimonious split between him and Brian Clough. The move also left Robertson with little time to focus on family life, as his daughter Jessica's death at 13 weighed heavily on his mind.
Today, O'Neill returns to manage Celtic, but Robertson is gone too soon. A hero in Scotland who deserved far more than the recognition he received during his playing days. His legacy will be cherished by those who knew him best – his family, friends, and former teammates like Chris Sutton, who have long revered his influence on and off the pitch.
The passing of John Robertson leaves a void in Celtic's history books, but it also serves as a poignant reminder that even the most gifted individuals can fly under the radar if they don't have the right support network. As Scotland mourns the loss of this footballing legend, one thing is certain – Robertson will always be remembered as one of Scotland's greatest exports, a man whose on-field brilliance was only matched by his off-field humility and charm.
. I mean, 24 goals in European competitions? That's insane! 
And the fact that he scored two crucial strikes in the 1980 European Cup final against Hamburg is just mind-blowing... for me anyway, it was the era of superstars like Pelé and Zinedine Zidane, but I guess that's a whole different story 
. What really gets me though is how humble he was off the pitch. I mean, can you imagine someone with his talent being so down-to-earth? It's just too nostalgic for my taste 
. I remember watching old Celtic matches and thinking "wow, this guy is something special". And now he's gone... it's just not right 
. The fact that Scotland barely recognized him during his playing days is just heartbreaking 
. Anyways, O'Neill taking over at Celtic? That's gonna be interesting... I hope he can fill the void left by Robertson's passing 
.
He did have a decent run with Celtic, but that's about it. And don't even get me started on the whole situation with Derby County... that sounds like a recipe for disaster. His daughter dying at 13 must've taken a toll on him, but I'm sure he was just fine... 
The fact that he's now "remembered" as one of Scotland's greatest exports is probably just PR spin to make himself sound better than he actually was. Still, his old teammates and family will always have a soft spot for him, I suppose. 
like, scoring 24 goals in europe is no joke! 
and to think he struggled to get the recognition he deserved in scotland... it's just heartbreaking 
rest in peace john robertson 
you may not be a household name in scotland, but you're definitely one in our hearts 
️. You know, I was talking to my grandkids the other day and they were saying how lucky we are to have had such great role models like John Robertson growing up. It's funny how life works out, right? 
- Scotland needs to give John Robertson the recognition he deserved while he was playing, he had some amazing games and was super talented! 
His legacy will live on through Celtic and all the people who loved him 
, and it's sad that he didn't get more credit when he was alive 
. His story is a reminder that even the best players can fly under the radar if they don't have good support... really makes you think about how lucky some of them are to have had the right people in their lives 
Interesting!
. His legacy will live on through his family, friends, and former teammates who'll always remember him as one of Scotland's greatest exports 
. It's a great reminder that we shouldn't forget the players who may not have gotten the recognition they deserved in their playing days 
. I remember reading about his partnership with Martin O'Neill at Celtic and how they won all those titles together... it's a shame he never got the recognition he deserved in Scotland 
.
. He may not have had the fame he deserved while playing, but we know the truth about him now and he'll always be remembered as one of Scotland's greatest exports 
. I hope we can learn from this and give more recognition to players who deserve it, but fly under the radar 
.
and btw that goal against hamburg is still insane 
. I'm sure Martin O'Neill's return to Celtic is bittersweet 
.
. It's heartbreaking that his modest national record can't do justice to his incredible talent.
. I mean, 24 goals in European competitions is crazy impressive! He didn't even get the recognition he deserved back home 
, and what did we get? A few quips from the media 
. It's not fair to him or his family.
] If I were to draw a diagram of John Robertson's career, it would be a sad, uneven line 
. He had so much talent on the pitch, but off the field, he struggled to find recognition. His move to Derby County was like a dark cloud 
️, and his daughter's passing weighed heavily on him.